▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐋𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐘𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 had the chance to feel what it was like to be loved, of course her parents loved her but she had been a mere child and barely remembered them. Karine had always been someone she saw as a sister whom she loved, but she's never felt what it was like to be truly loved by someone else. To Liliya, Steve had quickly become everything to her. From their first kiss she instantly knew that she was in trouble.

She's never been in a relationship before, and now that she was in one she was overwhelmed with the amount of love Steve had to share. He comforted her, but gave her the space she needed and the time that was needed to get used to such affection. He let her do what she needed to get done and didn't question everything she was doing. Steve Rogers saw the best in Liliya Petrova and it was something that she would never be able to comprehend.

Liliya saw herself a monster. She believed that even though her heart had opened up, and her cold exterior had melted, that deep inside that part of her that belonged to the Murder House would always be there. On top of that, the experimentations were really starting to come into play. She found herself unable to keep a solid form, seeming to fade in and out of existence. Since she left the Murder House, this is the first time she's felt truly scared.

She sat in the lab, watching her hands as they faded in and out. Steve was standing by her side, worry clear on his face. Rosalynn walked into the room, a gentle smile on her face. "Liliya." She noticed her hands. "I see that's why you are here." Liliya simply nodded.

"It hasn't happened in a while, but it seems to have come back full force." Liliya shook her head. "What is happening to me?"

To Steve and Rosalynn, it seemed Liliya was simply unbothered. But Liliya could feel the fear clawing at her throat, her mind screaming in anticipation to know what the hell is happening. Rosalynn walked up to her, waiting for her to become fully physical before gently grabbing her arm and finding a vein, plunging a needle into her arm and drawing blood.

"You don't seem nearly as bothered by this as others who have come to me unsure of what was happening to them." Rosalynn stated, pulling out the needle and collected the blood.

Liliya rolled her arm, pushing the hair from her face. "When you've seen what I have, nothing phases you anymore."

Rosalynn's actions slowed for a moment before she continued. "It'll take a couple hour for the results to come back, but I think they'll only confirm what I suspect."

Liliya straightened. "And what exactly do you suspect, doctor?"

Rosalynn walked away from where the blood was being tested, turning towards Liliya. "Well, from the information that has been given to me, it is easy to suspect that the experimentations the Murder House has done on you has resulted in you receiving powers. From what I can tell, it seems you have been given the ability to phase."

Liliya stared at her blankly. "I'm sorry, phase? What the hell is that?"

Rosalynn paused to think, trying to figure out the best way to explain it. "Phasing is essentially having the ability to go through things. You are able to stretch the molecules in your body and pass through any solid objects. On top of that, you are able to control your form and become solid. So, although that is not the case as of this moment, eventually you will be able to control when your body is intangible and solid."

Liliya blinked, complete shock on her face. "O-oh." She turned her head to look at Steve. "What does this mean?"

Steve placed a hand on her shoulder, which thankfully was solid at the moment, and gave her a reassuring smile. "Well, we should wait for the lab results, and then if what Rosalynn is saying is true, then. . . then, I guess we have to train you."

"But. . . but how would you train me?"

"We'll figure it out, alright? Don't worry about this."

Liliya stared at him for a moment and Rosalynn took her cue to leave the room. "Steve. . . I'm. . . I'm scared. I've never dabbled in the world of supernatural powers, not like you guys have. I don't know what I'm doing."

Steve nodded in understanding. "Maybe you should talk to Theodora about this. She has special abilities, she might be able to help you understand all of this."

Liliya furrowed her brows, recognizing the name. "Theodora. . . Barton? Clint Barton's wife?" Steve nodded. "I wouldn't want to interrupt her time with her family."

"She'll understand."

Liliya chewed on her bottom lip, eyes darting back and forth as she thought about it before finally she nodded. "Okay, I'll talk to her."

"Let me make a call, I'll be right back."

Liliya nodded, watching as he walked out of the room. She closed her eyes, that tension that she had finally let go of weeks ago growing back into her shoulders. She felt a headache begin to form as frustrated tears filled her eyes. The murder House would now forever be attached to her. No matter how much she tried to distance herself from them, they had made her who she is. Dr. Von had done this to her. The only thing that was keeping Liliya from completely falling apart was the knowledge that that horrid woman was dead by Liliya's hand.