Cinnamon Girl- Lana Del Rey

It was raining when she left the tower, Anastasia didn't mind. She enjoyed walking through the rain, at first she didn't really know where she was going.

But maybe if she just started her feet would carry her there. Wherever 'there' was, it became almost daytime, luckily streets were dotted with colored orangery lamp lights that would shine bright illuminating the area.

There were people of course, dashing about in their lives like there were a million things to do, to say. Businessmen in limos and women dressed for Sunday roast in the Hamptons. Ana wore what Ana felt comfortable in, Sweats and a black jumper.

Ana listened to music looking around her as she walked, neon lights and biker kids skidding about trying to escape police. It seemed so mundane, something Anastasia sort of craved. It was lifestyle or normalcy and it was far out of reach, Ana understood that.

She took an alleyway which led to an abandoned subway station. Following the quiet and eerie route she didn't seem deterred by the darkness looming about. Luckily lights still dotted about making it easy to see.

The rails were broken up, and it smelt of rat feces and vomit. Her eyes caught a metal door jarred open by rumble, a long metal pipe.

Such a sight to explore. Stupid? Maybe. Reckless? Of course.

The music made her feel easy, like she wasn't alone. And it blocked out sounds around her, rats and bugs making noise. It was then a broken and shut down board of metal buttons sat in the middle of the room.

Cabinets were scattered rusting of their metallic paint. Files were displaced and sprawled out some ripped and formed, wondering what they were. Anastasia picked up a single file in its brown card folder.

Ana decided to traverse through the rubble, it seemed like an old training facility mixed with board rooms.

"Something happened here." Ana mumbled, she took out her phone turning on its flashlight.

As the light shined on the debris decorated around her, she saw brown computers with screens smashed in and monitors caved in. The walls seemed to have bullet holes this much was enough to say that heavy artillery came through.

Anastasia hummed and walked down the hallway of a broken base. Her fingertips trailed the concrete wall, she felt like the main character of a drama series.

Smiles like sadism crept on her face, she was sort of enjoying herself. A darker feeling lurking like a parasite she felt it wriggle in her throat. She bit her bottom lip turning over stone bricks for easy access to what seemed to be a medbay.

Rusted gurneys laid on their sides, it was a complete mess. It wasn't long until she tried making her way back to one of the conference rooms in the far back of the base.

Located everywhere she stumbled upon words in rust and deformity, H.Y.D.R.A like a stamp imprinted on walls, she wondered what it meant.

It was on every wall and yet it wasn't but it seemed it wouldn't leave her mind anytime soon. Her phone would soon die out of battery, she cursed for not charging it earlier. If that was, she wouldn't get grounded when she returned home.

Though obvious that this base was habitant to several individuals. Cells lined certain hallways, equipped with beds, toilets and essentials. Inside one of them, Ana saw pictures. Torn at the edges but it wasn't hard to see that it was a family. Their faces however burnt out by bullet holes.

XXX

Seemed obviously classified, but inside a picture of a man. It looked young, familiar almost but she knew she never had met him. What were the chances of that? Out of the entire population of America? Or the entire world?

But she continued to read,

NAME: HARRY ALAIRE

Activity Status: KIA

(KILLED IN ACTION)

LAST KNOWN LOCATION: UKRAINE

KIN: CHARLOTTE MIA ALAIRE

ANASTASIA S ALAIRE

Anastasia placed the papers back into their folder and on the makeshift table she made out of the remaining rumble. Luckily a chair was still intact.

She found another file,

XXX

Another one.

Back at the Tower everyone sat except Thor who seemed to be wondering about the house. In search for something, more so,

Someone.

"Has anyone seen Lady Ana?, I can't seem to find her." Thor questioned the group of heroics.

"Check her room?" Banner replied, but Steve instantly replied to that. Steve's mouth full of chinese food,

"She left, I tried to stop her. She was in a hurry and looked distressed." Steve chirped now walking into the living room it seemed to be early that morning the sun was rising,

It was evident that Tony was indeed annoyed and somewhat angry at this.

"I tried to stop her, but she knocked me out." This earnt a chuckle from Natasha, "She knocked you on your ass, Rogers."

"Not the time, Natasha." Tony warned,

"Oh, okay he's pissed."Banner observed,

This made everyone including Natasha to shut up. Natasha knew her limitations,

By this time poor Pepper rushed in, confused at the commotion. "What's happening? Where's Ana?" Now alert to see the girl nowhere insight.

"Good Ol' Cap here, let Ana go for a wander!" Tony pointed stupidly at the man, well Pepper groaned and ran her hands down her face.

"For the record, if you missed I tried to stop her! But with her power she basically knocked me out. What was I supposed to do unconscious?" Steve testified defensively.

"You're lucky I put a tracking on her phone when I gave it to her." Tony stated, " Tony it isn't his fault. Go easy." Pepper whispered into Tony's ear.

"Jarvis, locate Anastasia Montgomery- I know, but she's a kid wandering around the streets for god knows what." Tony replied in a aggravated whisper,

"Certainly, but it'll take a moment her phone signal isn't as strong." The robot responded calmly.

Tony furrowed his brows in thought. He knew she couldn't be far, she didn't know the city well enough. That made him anxious,

"I have found her location, I am directing the location to your cellphone sir." Jarvis responded,

"Good, Steve your coming-" Tony hastily mumbled.

Peppers face was in thought, but it wasn't kind thoughts it was worrisome eating up the thoughts, and anxiety stirring about. He knew that look all too well.

Meanwhile.

Anastasia read through papers, she forgot the time. Truly she was immersed in reading these paragraphs of people she never knew, lives once lived. Ex soldiers it seemed, Ana came to the conclusion that it was some sort of militia she was in. A base of sorts, she wasn't sure of it's intentions.

She picked up a file. It read, Alaire. With several classified symbols stamped on the front.

But inside a picture of the most beautiful woman that Anastasia had seen.

Her hair was long and brown, cheeks rosy with red painted lips. The most sculpted face, and light blue ocean pooled eyes.

NAME: ALAIRE MIA CHARLOTTE

ACTIVITY STATUS: MIA

RELATIVES: NONE

KIN: ANASTASIA STARK ALAIRE

LAST KNOWN LOCATION: UNKNOWN

"Odd same name." Anastasia scoffed, flipping through more pages stumbling on Anastasia's file. Her phone began to ring, bringing her out of her inner thoughts she picked it up and held it to her ear.

It was Tony, unimpressed and somewhat annoyed that the girl had left. "Hey." She greeted scrunching her nose and biting her lip, anxious for a yelling.

"I know you left, and I am coming." His words were not angry but disappointed. But it's not like she expected anything less of it.

But before she could reply her phone signalled it's last dying sound as the battery ran dry. Ana thought that Tony may have thought she just hung up.

"Shit." She knew she was in deeper trouble now, she couldn't hide from it. Be prepared to take the consequences head on. Ana continued to read the file.

ANASTASIA S ALARIE

NATIONALITY: FRENCH AND AMERICAN

AGE:UNKNOWN

LAST KNOWN LOCATION:

REATIVES: HARRY ALAIRE (father)

CHARLOTTE MIA ALAIRE (mother)

BRIEFING: ANASTASIA WAS ADOPTED AT THE AGE OF 5 AND MIND WIPED,

the thought of potentially being this Anastasia freaked her out she chucked the file back down and picked up another.

VANESSA MONTGOMERY

NATIONALITY:AMERICAN

AGE: 41

LAST KNOWN LOCATION: MINNESOTA STATE, U.S

RELATIVES: ANASTASIA ALAIRE (adoptive child)

ABRAHAM MONTGOMERY (Husband)

Her thoughts were true. Her name wasn't her real name, her life wasn't real, was it?

Meanwhile

Tony was in the backseat of a car with Steve Rogers who sat silently afraid to talk. "She's at the old Subway, why?" Tony rhetorically questioned aloud,

"Did she mention why she even left?" Tony asked Steve who shook his head.

"She looked like something was on her mind. And she was a bit sweaty, and like she just woke up. All she said was she was going on a run and you'd allow it." Steve rambled.

"Well I don't. Did anything else happen today?" Tony asked, trying to figure out more information, or a clear motive.

"Did she have anything fighting training in her past?" Steve wondered,

"Not when I checked, not much information really which made me curious. But she was clean." This made Steve on edge, the lack of knowledge they had on Anastasia was worrisome.

Back at the subway station Anastasia felt sad, heartbroken and angry. And this was well known to fuel her enraged powers. Electricity flowed through her veins lighting up the room. And in loud signs, Hydra was blasted in neon blue.

And like a whiplash her toes curled and cheeks wet, eyes glared of bloodshot red "What am I?" Ana screamed at the working monitor.

And it responded like it was another Jarvis, "Running Facial Recon Scan- you are ANASTASIA ALAIRE adoptive daughter of Vanessa Montgomery and Abraham Montgomery, biological daughter of Charlotte and Harry Alaire. Species, unidentifiable."

The outpour of information from a robot led more questions,

"Where am I?"

"H.Y.D.R.A'S HQ, formally unused and inactive." The robotic female voice stated,

"Where are Charlotte and Harry Alaire?" Anastasia questioned, more so demanded.

"Classified."

"Tell me!" Ana screamed in anguish,

"That information is classified!"

"By whose authority?" Ana questioned her hands clenched now, hot to touch.

"Classified."

Everything was documentented and kept on lock and key. It was infuriating to Anastasia whose face was tomato red, eyes red, streaming salty tears. She continued to scream at the monitor for questions only to receive a singular word.

"Classified."

To a point Ana couldn't bear the sight of a blasted red bean of aggravated power. With a gut wrenching scream.

But Tony Stark wasn't too far from the scene, he walked alongside Steve who was on high alert. Tony heard screams, mumbled and strained it had to be her.

"Ana?" He called, running now down a railway track.

"Ana?" Tony again called. Steve not far up ahead.

"Tell me!" Anastasia asked, "classified." The sound of an A.I replied, it came from the direction of an open doorway leading down stairs.

Steve was the first to see.

"Ana-" Tony followed behind him, he wasn't entirely prepared for the scene. But both were confused about where they were until they saw HYDRA displayed on the screen. It was obviously left in squalor and abandoned. Which led to the question, how Ana knew about this place.

"Ana, you need to calm down. Your powers are acting up." Steve informs slowly to approach the young girl carefully.

"Who am I?" Ana only muttered,

Steve was slightly taken back and confused as was Tony who only sighed,

"Your Ana, you're a fourteen year old girl who goes to MidTown High School. You live with me and Pepper-" but this isn't what Ana wanted to really hear but it settled her down.

Her intense commotion dialed down led Tony rushing towards her and engulfing her into a warm and relieving hug. But it was only sobbing from Ana, as Steve stood clearly needing some questions answered.

"It's okay, kid. You're safe with me." Tony reassured, but Ana pulled away, her eyes puffy. "It was a lie, Tony-" the pain and sorrow lingered in her voice made Tony's heart drop, a frown lingered.

"-my life was a lie." Ana butties her face in shoulder.

And seeing her in this emotional and physical state again made him feel like he was failing again, he couldn't protect her. "Tony, a word." Steve asked, Tony huffed and looked at his crying girl wiping away her tears.

"Happy's waiting in the car. Let me walk you." Tony smiled softly and Ana nodded.

Ana sat in the car well Steve and Tony talked, she figured it was about her. "How'd she know where a Hydra base was?" Steve chirped, Anastasia listened to, another bad habit, she knew.

"How am I supposed to know!" Tony spat.

"Clearly something is going on and it's not good." Steve stated it wasn't to Tony or anyone but a general thought he had.

"Whatever it is, she's still the teenager I met over a month ago! And we're going home." Tony climbed into his black tinted car alongside Steve who tuned out and just started to think. Alongside Ana who chose her music again.

Ana didn't want to talk about it. The music was her escape, a form of therapy for her broken heart, and shattered mind.

A few hours passed, Ana ate small portions of her food. No one questioned what happened after a few stern advising words from Tony but Pepper received a well deserved update.

Pepper seemed uneasy but she knew she needed to be there for the girl. After all Tony observed, and it made sense Ana didn't know either. With her questions of who she was and it all being lies.

Tony went to her room.

Ana was tucked into the corner of her room. Glass panes tall and wide viewing the city from a high. "Come in." Ana heard his knocks.

"Hey, can we talk?"

"I'm honestly not sure." She replied not looking at him, her knees to her chest.

"That's okay, can I just sit with you?" Tony stood a few feet from her she nodded, looking at him with a sad smile.

So they sat in comfortable silence. Unsure of time passing, as cars did and people roamed below.

"Sorry." Ana croaked, Tony looked and he sighed. He wasn't really into affection but he pulled her into a hug. Something he seemed to do often.

"You don't need to be sorry."

"I left without permission and I probably made everyone worry." This made Tony give out a light chuckle pulling away.

"Maybe, Thor was about to fly out. You know him, and Pepper well she is Pepper-"

But this made Ana feel worse, and this was apparent on her face. "My point is, yes you did. But we found you and you're safe now. Don't excuse that you're going to be punished."

Anastasia understood her consequences.

"Why were you there?" Tony asked but he got no answer, only a side glare. In all honestly she was afraid to say it out loud, it was as if she said it out loud it was true.

Her life, adopted? A lie? All of it. None of it was real.

"Ana you can tell me. No one's going to hurt you, and they can try but they'll have to get through me." He placed his fists on his hips in a proud ego stance. Like he was some powerful hero.

"You're a mental man, basically the

Tin Can Man from the Wizard of Oz." Anastasia chuckled in response,

"Ouch." Tony held a hand to his chest in sarcasm. Ana rolled her eyes, "whatever."

"Ana you know you can tell me anything." Tony repeated reassuringly.

"I know but if I say it- no it's stupid I am being stupid." Ana jumped to her feet and hurried about the room.

"No you're not, whatever it is, no matter how big or small it'll be okay." Tony mumbled,

"Stop saying it is going to be okay!-" Ana shouted, and she didn't mean to, she was just sick and tired of the sudden lie of her lie. "-sorry I didn't mean it shout."

"It's fine. But you can't pent up like this. Whatever is said is said in a safe space." But Ana groaned, "Now you sound like my old school counsellor."

"You saw a counsellor?-" Tony cut off, take aback from the information, "-doesn't change a damn thing. We care for you, Anastasia. So whatever has got you upset, I want to know!" Tony declared now in front of her hands on shoulders.

"I don't even know anymore, Tony." And then it slowly dawned on her Anastasia sat slumped on the edge of her bed.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Anastasia Montgomery isn't my name-" the information didn't add up really in his mind. "-Anastasia Mia Alaire, French and American, parents Charlotte and Harry Alaire-." Anastasia recited remembering it how it was,

"-adopted from the age of five by Vanessa and Abraham Montgomery. Harry is dead, Charlotte, who knows and the same can go for my adoptive mother whose name is apparently Vanessa, and then you have Abraham Montgomery." Anastasia finished, she fitted her face in the palm of her hands. They felt cold, like how her blood,

"That's a lot." Tony stated his eyes on her, a small and sad grin. How does one lie and cheat and say that they were left because no one wanted them no more.

"How could she not want me?" Anastasia asked as her voice was slightly on edge, crippled but it was audible.

"Maybe she wasn't ready." Tony replied trying to help,

"Maybe she shouldn't have had me then-" Ana snapped cruelty at herself, "-if she wasn't ready why did she have me. There are certainly ways now to get rid of me."

"Hey-" Tony didn't like this talk of not being born. "- if she never had you, you wouldn't have met me or Pepper, Thor or had the hardships in your life to make you strong as you are today."

"I'm not strong, Tony." She scoffed,

"You just don't know it yet." Tony winked

The talk ended with a comforting hug at first Tony didn't know what to do. But he knew she needed it. "What's the time?" It was of course six am, on a Friday morning. "Shit." Ana cursed, she had school.

Anastasia didn't feel tired, usually someone her age would be exhausted. But she wanted to see Peter and be with her friends. Maybe they could give her a distraction,

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind a bit of lateness." Tony smirked leaving her room.

But Anastasia ducked into her bathroom to shower the pulsating coolness of the water down her skin.

Tony expected her to get some sleep, but no. She blasted some music getting dressed in a white graphic shirt and black jeans. Her hair of course brushed from it's mangled mess, up in a tight ponytail.

Anastasia would have to apologise to Steve, but for now she wanted to avoid the interaction of the Avengers. Not permanently but just for today.

'Is it okay, if I go out a bit early for school. I know I should be sleeping and all, and I really am sorry about lying. But I kind of wanted to just be alone with myself'

She texted Tony,

'i have gps on at all times. And until you learn, I will be notified of you leaving school immediately.'

Tony responded,

'naturally.' Ana smiled,

'i will put some lunch money on the counter. Everyone's in the lounge, so whether you want to see them or not.'

Anastasia appreciated the heads-up,

'Thanks, see you later?'

'Have a good day,'

Ana walked into the hallway where Pepper was, a grin on her face. As Pepper approaches the girl with a tight hug, "Doesn't mean you're off the hook."

"Believe me I know." Anastasia chuckled,

"Are you going to school?" Pepper wondered, surprised, she'd thought the girl would want to stay home and sleep on.

"Naturally." Anastasia replied with a smirk,

"Oh, that boy-" Pepper gushed over young love,

"What boy?" A male asked from behind, it was Tony.

"No one! Just a Chemistry Lab partner project and all." Anastasia flustered, she glared at Pepper who poked out a tongue and walked away.

"Here." Tony passed a hundred dollar bill again.

"You can't keep giving me large sums of money, it's unnatural for a kid to be given this much." Anastasia whined shoving back the note,

"It's all I have, besides I thought you kids loved money." Tony defended slipping the money in her front jean pocket.

He sipped on his energy drink and bounced down the hall. "This isn't over, Stark!"

"What isn't over?" Natasha now in front of the girl asked,

"Tony thinks it's okay for a teenage girl like myself to have large sums of money without it drawing suspicion. You'd think for a intelligent man, he wouldn't be dumb half the time." Natasha chuckled,

"You okay? You went off last night, and knocked Steve on his ass."

"Fine, just information I needed to find out. I'll talk about it later, I got school." Anastasia waved Natasha goodbye before leaving the building. "Have a good day!" She heard Natasha call from behind,

For that, she heard the rest of the group talking, a subtle mention of her new came up, it was Steve. She felt bad for doing that. Apologise can come later.

Happy was waiting for her like usual in his car parked underground. "Heard you went on a trip last night."

"Wow, word travels fast." Anastasia commented,

"It happens when you're the head of Security, and now the head of you." Happy responded,

"Hold up, your what?"

"I have to watch you now, '' Tony instructed me this morning through text. Can't blame him, you can't-"

"I'm going to kick him so hard."

"He's only looking out for you." Happy chirped looking into the rearview mirror at the girl.

"Yeah well, still doesn't mean I won't kick his ass."

"I'd pay to see that." Happy chuckled.

Happy parked outside a cafe which was only a block away from the school. It was convenient since she missed her morning coffee and she was starving. Maybe this hundred wasn't as bad as she thought.

"What can I get you to miss?" A male waiter asked,

"I'd get a mocha, and a blueberry muffin."

"Takeaway or you have here?"

"I'll be here, but put the coffee in the takeaway cup please.

The male waiter nodded and attended to her order.

She sat dangling her legs watching traffic past by. Honking horns, she liked these moments. As chaotic as they were, they seem mundane, she wondered where she'd be now if she was 'normal' probably on the streets, scavenging for food through back alleys and begging. If that's what it took, Anastasia was grateful, she owed her life to Tony and Pepper, those people took her in and gave her a life.

Something she thought she didn't deserve. A life, it was something people take for granted but it should be something that is beautiful. It used to be completely different, the past was dreadful, she watched out the window. The sun passed through the panes onto the tile floor and her face.

"Here's you muffin, and mocha." The male waiter snapped her out of her gaze. She smiled and thanked him, "No problems, kiddo."

She cringed, when people called her kid or kiddo it made her feel like a five year old. But when Tony called her kid, it seemed right.

"Thanks, here." She passed her bill over and the man took it bringing back change. She gave him a tenner as a tip for himself.

"Thanks." She drank her coffee and ate her muffin, embracing the warmth of the atmosphere. Unfortunately that was broken from Flash Thompson who saw her and decided he wanted to talk,

To her dismay Anastasia couldn't weene out of this one. "Morning Flash." She greeted with a smile, no, Flash Thompson wasn't going to ruin this morning for her.

"Morning Ana." She cringed again,

"Don't call me that."

"Why not? You let Parker call you that, and Ned." Flash frowned, ordering himself a beverage.

"Because they are my friends." Ana chirped back.

"Am I not your friend?" He cocked his head in confusion and upset.

"No you are not, now if you don't mind I better get going." Anastasia farewelled something she was happy to do. But she was also surprised Flash didn't make any sexist or rude comments.

Soon it was school, and the first period was quiet, unusually quiet. Chemistry, shouldn't she didn't mind in fact she was sort of enjoying it. Mixing things, dissecting frogs seemed obscure though. Dissection would be next terms focus point,

Peter wasn't in class however Ned was, "Morning." He seemed a bit chipper this morning,

"Morning, where's Pete?" Ana asked curious where the boy was.

"Probably sleeping in." Ned and Ana rolled their eyes, but when the bell rang in came Peter Parker rushed and his hair messy.

"You seem tired." Ned commented,

"Thanks, I was up last night writing up stuff for our History project." Ana rolled her eyes, of course he seated himself behind Ana next to Ned who was already writing stuff up from the white board.

"Morning, today we will be memorizing some genetic materials. For next week's pop quiz." Everyone stayed quiet,

"Good, now on the board I have drawn up three molecules please draw them and label them in your books well I call out the registry." Mister Cobwell the Chemistry teacher instructed, so Anastasia opened her book and started writing.

As soon as Chemistry ended it was then onto History. They began reading again on WWII, but the teacher had something else in mind. A small video from Captain America himself, in uniform. In all honestly he looked kind of funny in his spandex uniform of blue and red.

Ana forgot he was a part of that era, she wondered how he felt. He lost people, family, friends maybe a lover. A frown found her lips, "You good?" Peter whispered he sat next to her as they watched the man talk on screen.

"I wonder, how he feels."Peter look confused what she meant,

"What do you mean?" In fact her being a liability according to her seemed understandable even though she was a child she had no excuse as to why she was at a Hydra base.

Not exactly could she say, 'Hey Tony, I was there because of a crazy dream I had.'

"I think people forget where he came from. Stuck in an ice cube, had to lose everyone he loved. That must suck." Peter frowned as well,

"You think Spiderman knows him?" Anastasia asked, Peter just sucked in and slowly exhaled.

"Maybe, I don't know." Soon the video ended. Alongside the discussion,

Ana was in Study Hall she was reading on a Physics book titled;

It was interesting, the book itself. She wondered if this was what Banner was into, she'd have to ask. Maybe he could help her on her homework-

Maybe he was not a busy man after all.

Anastasia found herself thinking more than reading or working. "Penny for your thoughts?" It was Michelle, she held an apple in her hand and half of a brownie. Anastasia thanked her.

She bit into the apple, Michelle smiled and sat next to her. "So I heard they want members for the maths Decathlon Team?"

Ana looked at her, "That's nice, why are you telling me?"

"Cause I want you to join." Michelle stated bluntly picking at her nails.

Anastasia laughed she wasn't going to mathematical equations let alone a decathlon. "Go ask Peter, he's smarter than me."

"I already did-" Michelle replied with a small smirk,

"And?" Ana raised a questioning brow hoping for a positive answer,

"He said he'd think about it." Ana slumped in her seat, she tucked away her Physics textbook alongside her History stationary.

"What do you say?'' - Michelle pestered with a eagering grin, "-we need another girl to level the playing field."

Anastasia turned to the girl in one sharp swift on her heels. "I'll think about it."

That's all she could do, she had enough on her plate. Adding this extra curricular activity was something else,

"Fine." Michelle spat in defeat and walked away sighing, accepting it for what it was. Anastasia just rolled her eyes and walked away to her next class before the bell would strike the hour.

English was up, something she seemed to be struggling in but nevertheless pushed through. After cane Physics with Mrs Warren, Peter was in this class alongside Ned.

"Hey so Peters having a movie night at his house and we were wondering if you'd want to join?" Ned asked, he seemed nervous because he fiddled with a piece of paper in his hands and keep looking away as if someone was watching us,

"If it's at Peters, why are you asking me, Ned?" Ana asked raising her head only to cock it to a side in obvious question, Ned responded,

"You know how Peter is, he gets all weird around girls." This made Anastasia giggle.

As on cue Parker walked in with a grin, but when Anastasia's eyes snapped at him he smiled ducked his down.

The girl got flustered so easily, she absolutely hated it. If Pepper figured her out, who else could.

Peter placed himself behind Ana next to Ned as usual. Anastasia turned around on her seat just as the class started, thinking about it for a second before opening her mouth, "I'll have to talk to my uncle, he is a bit iffy on me going out."

Peter and Ned looked at each other with wide eyes and smiled, next minute the teacher was calling out the registry.

"Peter Parker-"

Peter was thinking, he didn't plan for Ana to actually come.

"Peter-"

Ned nudged his friend in the side with his elbow, "Here." Peter responded loudly which caused slight giggles and Anastasia to roll her eyes.

At Recess they ate their food, talked about before Anastasia mentioned the decathlon to Peter who couldn't figure out a single sentence for himself. "Peter, dude, you good?" Ned inquired concerned,

"Yeah just sidetracked."

"R-right." Ned responded, Ana just nodded. Peter avoided the question by fiddling with his phone,

"Did you hear, Tony Stark is hosting this year's Science Fair!" Peter showed the duo his phone which displayed Pepper Potts and Tony Stark in front of the press.

Anastasia was amazed that neither of them decided to announce that this was a thing or would mention it too Anastasia,

"-And the winner gets a cash prize."Ned read from Peter's phone, this seemed to hype them up.

"Great!" Anastasia furrowed her brows and sipped on her chocolate milk carton. She seemed annoyed.

School was finished, as usual Happy picked the girl up. Mentioning how Peter would have a movie night at his tomorrow, she seemed excited.

She realized she never really had a friend like them before, this was her first time at someone else's house. As a friend. She felt nervous,

Anastasia walked into the living room from out the elevator, she had her earplugs in so ignoring everything around her was given. Especially the avenger still who was watching the girl wander through, she hummed and swayed her hips.

No one made a peep, dared to spin the girl out of her mind. Anastasia pulled out some bread and decided to butter her a jam sandwich. Tony was leaning against the fridge with a smirk, Anastasia pulled out an earplug.

"You good?" Anastasia looked at Tony before surveying the rest of the room.

"Awh, shit." Anastasia spat embarrassed,

Steve just laughed,

Anastasia continued to make her sandwich, "How was school?" Pepper asked, walking in the room.

"Fine, usual day, usual things and sall."Anastasia looked up her hands firmly placed on the marble counter,

"I am sensing a but in here somewhere." Pepper observed the girl with a suspicious look.

"Well, my friend is having a get together at his house tomorrow and I am wondering if I could go?" Anastasia rushed out the words, exhaling deeply.

"Whose this friend?" Tony inquired, but Pepper knew.

"Is this that-" But before Pepper finished Anastasia cut her off with a shush,

"Mhm, just me and another friend."

"Do I get to meet this friend you vaguely speak of?" Tony asked, defensively putting away her sandwich ingredients.

"You forget that you guys aren't my documented guardians legally. Happy is, that was your guys idea. To not draw suspicious people into this." Anastasia factually pointed out, chewing her sandwich.

"Well someone's got to go meet this kid, I ain't sending you ain't to some random kids house." Tony stated,

"Well Happy's down as my quote n quote guardian. Everyone thinks he's my Uncle." Anastasia implied, well her mouth full of bread.

The Avengers were watching the scene unravel in silence, no one speaking.

Well everyone except of course, Natasha.

"It would be good for the Kid to get out and mingle with her own age."

"Thanks, for the tip but I think we got this." Tony spat his eyes turning to slits.

Natasha threw her hands in surrender rolling her eyes, she backed off.

"No Natasha is right." Pepper agreed,

"Fine, but I am getting Happy to meet him and if Happy says yes. And at all times you wear your gloves." Tony declared, defeated.

"But-" Anastasia whined, Tony snapped his eyes as it was a debatable condition. These were his rules and she was going to follow them, that's if she wanted to go.

"No, buts, Anastasia you will keep those gloves on or you're not going." Tony scoffed,

"Oh, he called you-" Clint hollered, earning a daggering glare from said girl.

"You may be good with a crossbow but I swear to god I will kick your ass." Anastasia spat annoyed,

"And you know she can do it." Thor agreed, chuckling.

"You wear em, or you don't go." Tony conditioned, Anastasia nodded.

"Fine."

Anastasia pulled out her phone and texted Peter.

Pete

Hey I can make it tomorrow, but on one condition-

What is that?

My uncle has to meet you.

Sure, he can also meet Aunt May, if that helps.

It does. Thanks, what time should I come over?

12?

Anastasia looked up from her phone at Tony, "He wants to meet up at 12."

"Where does he live?" Tony questioned,

"I think he mentioned Queens, but I ain't sure of the specifics. " Tony nodded,

"Well it's all up to Happy and you keep your end."

Cool what's your address?

As Peter texted the address, Anastasia called Happy.

"Haaap-" She whined with a pouty voice,

"What, do you want?" Said man responded,

"Can you go meet this friend of mine tomorow since Tony can't?"

"Why can't anyone else?" Happy wondered clearly annoyed,

"Because you're my apparent legal guardian according to everyone." Anastasia stated factually,

"Fine, text me the address and time."

"Sent."

"Jeez, that was quick."

"Don't underestimate the power of the fingers." Ana proudly stated,

"Whatever, see you tomorrow then." Happy then hung up,

"Happy said he would meet him." Ana told Tony who nodded,

Anastasia took a shower and changed into some sweats and a singlet. Before pulling up in the lounge with a grin, no one was occupying the area except for Steve.

"Where is everyone?" Anastasia asked,

"Getting food, Natasha went for a run and Tony and Bruce are in the Lab." Steve responded sternly looking at his phone.

"I saw you on television today at school-" This caused Steve to side eye the girl, "-you were giving a speech on the War II. Made me sad, to be honest with you."

"Why did it make you sad?" Steve asked confused,

"You weren't from this time, yet you lost so much. More than anyone could ever comprehend, time, friends and family. And you can't get that back." Anastasia frowned, "But it also made me realize, that I am sorry."

Steve had all his attention now on Anastasia who was frowning looking into her lap, she fiddled with the string fraying from a cushion. "Why?"

"I guess for a lot of things. For starters knocking you out." Steve laughed at that at just smirked,

"I'm just glad you alright, question though." Steve inquired, Anastasia just hummed asking him what he wanted to know.

"Can I trust you?" Anastasia looked at him and without hesitation she responded,

"Of course you can. I mean a lot of things are unexplained, me at that base for sure makes me look suspicious, I mean you it's all up to you, isn't it?" Anastasia softly replied not smiling but with a somber look, it wasn't sad but just apologetic.

Steve doesn't respond, he just holds a tight grin.

"We're back," Pepper called with takeout in hand. With her was Thor and Clint.

"We'll talk about this later." Anastasia reassured holding an endearing look to Steve who nodded and stood up clasping his hands together in excitement for food.

"What do you bring me?" Anastasia asked in a fake northern British accent.

"You gotta stop doing that." Tony wheezed walking into the dining area with Bruce,

"Make me." Anastasia poked out her tongue cheekily,

"Children." Pepper rolled her eyes, and served out the food which everyone thanked for.

"Do mind if I eat and study?" Anastasia inquired,

"You are studying!" Tony spat in sarcastic shock,

"Hardy- hah, Stark. I keep my grades up you know!" Anastasia smirked,

"No I don't, but we still have a discussion upcoming, after dinner." Pepper nodded, shooing away the girl.

"I know." Anastasia whined in defeat, hanging her head slowly with her food in hand on a plate.

Anastasia opened up her textbooks and such and started reviewing notes for next week's Chemistry test as well as notes for History classes.

She had her headphones in while listening to a study playlist Peter made for her a while back during the first week she started school. She was excited to go to Peters, let alone be in the same house. Her gloves were off well writing and studying, they seemed to annoy her.

Anastasia was surprised no one had mentioned them at school, she had been wearing them for over a week now. Humming to the rhythmic beat of the music tapping her foot to the tune.

Natasha had come home already, and was showering. Natasha and Anastasia had barely gotten a chance to talk girl to girl, women to women. But now knowing where Natasha stood with her was easing her mind.

Anastasia hadn't confronted her past, now bringing up a personal and emotional development that seemed detrimental. Mostly to her. She felt deeply if she were to address the situation Anastasia would fall into a pit of worry and anxiety, a self- destruction of sorts.

But she had Tony now, and Pepper. As Well as Natasha, Peter and Ned hoping these relationships bettered her. She knew they did, no doubt.

Pulling out her phone she received a text from Peter. A casual 'hello' and then a 'sorry that sounded stupid.' Anastasia chuckled, he really lived up to the standard of awkwardly being around girls. Or even contacting one, she chuckled.

Replying with a hello,

He inquired what snacks they wanted for tomorrow's movie night and what type of movie. Peter would run to the DVD store, to pick up the film.

'whatever you want Peter, I don't mind.'

This didn't help Peter, in any sense. He felt more nervous and confused with himself. A girl staying over, and being vague about her interests weren't something he was hoping for. But then again, every woman was different. And Anastasia was certainly one of a kind, that's for sure.

Peter thought of different movies, horrors and action movies, Back to the Future is usually a hit. He approached Aunt May, "Hey Aunt May, do you mind if I have friends over tomorrow for a movie night?"

Aunt May was happy for Peter, he usually only hung out with Ned which to Aunt May wasn't wrong, she loved the fella but Peter was reaching out to new people.

"Whose coming?" She asked with a smile,

"Well my friend Ana-" But before

"A girl-"Aunt May raised an eyebrow,

"-we need to have that talk?" Peter scrunched her nose in shame.

"It's not like that, Aunt May! She, a friend, and Ned will be there too." Peter spat rolling his eyes.

Aunt May just laughed it off, "That's what I said at your age!" She stood up walking down the hall to the bathroom. Peter took that as an all clear sign,

Back at the Tower Anastasia had finished revising her notes she stretched out her arms. "We need to talk, Kid." Tony started making her jump.

"Jesus, Tony." Anastasia scoffed,

"You can't avoid this forever, we need to figure it out. The guys can help, we'll be there for you. And Steve-" Tony declared sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Yeah, I spoke with him." Anastasia replied cutting him off,

"What did he say?"

"Nothing much, just apologised. Whether he trusts me or not is up to him. I can't force him to like me." Anastasia looked at the billionaire with an emotionless face, as she rose from her desk closing down the browser tab on her laptop.

"The group knows what happened. We need to discuss a plan, Thor says there is a prophecy and that you are that basis of that rumor. Whether it is true or not." Tony stood up his back facing her as he looked at the large window. His arms crossed against his chest,

"Can't you tell them?" Anastasia whined,

"It isn't mine to tell-"that made her scoff,

"-besides it would sound better coming from you." So the two walked into the living room where the conversation already began with Clint stating their affiliation with the girl.

Clint saw no harm, but the Avengers needed clarification on everyone's thoughts.

"As I guess you all know-" Anastasia approached everyone pulling out a bottle of Coca Cola and cracking it open.

"-I am adopted and it's confusing. I have been having these dreams that turned to premonitions. Telling me about this base, it's familiarity was the thing calling to me."

This caused some worrisome looks from Natasha and Banner who was deep in thought, trying to comprehend the situation.

"-Now you're probably thinking I am like a ninja spy or something. But I can assure you I am not."

"What I think Anastasia is saying is I think we can trust her. We can inquire from sources about her and maybe find out where she got her powers." Tony stated ,

"Yeah, okay then but what now?" Steve inquired his hands clasp together over his mouth as he slouched over on the couch.

"Well that's up to you, I can't force you to trust me or like me." Anastasia looked at Steve with an appreciative smile.

"Well, whatever happens I'll stand with you, Lady Ana. No way, you have a bad bone in your body." Thor nodded standing up confirming his feelings, his trust.

"Thank you, Thor." Anastasia smiled,

"As I, when we talked today. No one really has spoken to me like that before, I trust you." Steve stood as well, this meant so much to Anastasia. His trust in her meant the world, as much as Tony and Pepper without a doubt believed the girl had a troublesome past.

"Well I think as a science we explore the unknown. Curiosity and all, but understanding your genetic material and certain gifts I guess you'd be of use." Bruce smiled,

"I agreed, we need more badass girls on our side. Through thick and thin." Natasha spoke, that just left Clint.

Everyone looked at him, "Oh it's my turn?" Tony just rolled his eyes,

"My epic speech of enlightenment well I'm in." Clint smiled like a child who just met Santa.

This was it from here on out everyone was a family. A family she never knew she needed, the family she'd always wanted. Out of the most unlikely of people.

~

Author's Note!

Herro is, TingTing, co author and writer! Here to just say, this was a long chapter. I've been busy a lot with work and had earthquakes/ Tsunamis and stuff. So pretty much busy around these parts! Anyway,

If Anastasia had to be a superhero, what superhero name would you choose for her? And maybe why?

Okay bye bye, see you next week. Same time, same place x

-Ting