Chapter 3: Where She Remembers
"It matters not what someone is born,
but what they grow to be"
- Albus Dumbledore

Clint was driving the old car looking a bit stressed, Wanda sat next to him still feeling down and Ember was sitting in the back, listening to some music with a bored expression.

"Wait here" said Clint once the car came to a stop, sending both girls a glance that said there was no discussion, then he got out and made his way towards the place where their next recruit was.

Ember scoffed at his request, she wasn't a child and he wasn't her boss. "Whatever"

There was a moment of silence, both girls sat there looking at the way the man went, before Wanda decided to break it.

"What made you change your mind?" Ember turned to look at her as the young Maximoff continued "You were right, this isn't your problem, so why help Steve?"

"He's an old family friend" answered Ember, hoping Wanda wouldn't ask anymore questions.

Noticing that the younger girl wasn't about to say anything else they returned to the silence for a minute before it was broken again, this time by the blonde.

"You know, I actually look up to you" chuckled Ember. Wanda looked at her as if she  had grown to heads "What? Is that bad or something?"

"You shouldn't, I've hurt people" Wanda answered, looking at her hands in embarrassment and guilt.

"But you want to prove you're better, that's why you keep going" At the girl's words Wanda turned to look at her again with a frown. Ember was looking outside seemingly  bored yet her words were strong and appeared to hold a meaning to the blonde "You do what I've been trying to do my whole life"

"People say I'm a monster"

At the sound of that word Ember turned to look at Wanda with white glowing eyes from anger, she hated that word. The temperature in the car seemed to drop, noticing what was happening Wanda was getting ready to knock the younger girl out. Realizing she was losing control the blonde closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them again showing that they had returned to their normal green color.

Wanda sighed in relief making Ember feel a bit embarrassed.

"To hell with people. You try to save lives, you fight for what you believe" Ember said looking at Wanda intensely "It doesn't matter what others say, you aren't a monster and what you believe is what matters"

With that Ember turned to look at the window again, putting on her headphones getting lost in her thoughts. Hearing Wanda say that word, monster, brought back the memory of her mother's terrified face as she looked at her.

Margo Lewis was beautiful young woman with silky long red hair and beautiful hazel eyes, she couldn't be older than twenty five and her face irradiated happiness as she stared at her smiling baby girl from the park bench. A three year old girl with blonde hair and forest green eyes sat in the sandbox a few feet away from her mother, a bright smile on her face and eyes wide in amazement as she looked around the park, watching all the colors and the kids running. It seemed perfect, the loving mother with her curious daughter at a park, nothing could go wrong, right? Of course it could, because this was no fairytale and things could change in a matter of seconds, all it took was an older boy with anger issues stepping on the girl's castle and trying to steal her toys, that's all it took for hell to break lose. Then, everything seemed to go in slow motion. Before Margo could react ,the little crying blonde raised her hands making blizzard come from them, throwing the boy to the ground making him scratch his elbows and blood come out of them. Terrified the boy looked at the girl, she had glowing white eyes and her hair seemed to turn almost white.
"Monster!" He shouted before running to his mother while crying.
Confused Ember stood up looking at her hands, still crying but know because she didn't understand what was happening. She turned around to look at her mother while sobbing "Mommy"
But Margo didn't say anything she just stood there with wide eyes looking at her daughter in a whole new light, because her daughter wasn't normal, she believed what the boy said, the girl in front of her wasn't her daughter she was a monster.

It all replayed on Ember's head, even if Margo stayed for a few months after that she knew it was in that moment when she truly lost her mother.

Ember snapped out of her thoughts and noticed three pairs of eyes looking at her, while she was lost in time Clint had returned and they had arrived to the airport, ready to catch a flight towards Germany.

"Ember, I said we're here" repeated Clint with a frown on his face.

"Right" With that she made her way out of the car trying to ignore the look the others were giving her.

❅

After arriving to Germany the team were waiting at the parking lot for the rest to arrive. They waited in the van for about ten minutes, the two avengers were at the front while Ember was stuck with a sleeping Scott Lang in the back.

"Finally" sighed Ember once Steve arrived.

Clint rolled his eyes at the girl, then he got out of the van to greet his friend along with Wanda.

"Cap." greeted Clint

"You know I wouldn't have called if I had any other choice." answered Steve, shaking hands with Barton.

"Hey, man, you're doing me a favour. Besides, I owe a debt." he replied looking at Wanda.

"Thanks for having my back." said Steve, now looking at Wanda.

"It was time to get off my ass." shrugged Wanda.

"How about our other recruit?"

"He's rarin' to go." answered Clint, opening, waking up Scott and allowing Ember to get out of the van. "Had to put a little coffee in him...but he should be good." continued Barton but Steve wasn't paying attention to him, he was too focused looking at the teenager he met a few years ago.

"Ember what are you doing here?" asked Steve in shock.

"Katniss said you needed my help" Ember said confused then turned towards Clint who was looking at the ground trying to avoid Cap's glare.

"Well he shouldn't have, it's dangerous and you're just a kid" retorted Cap, still glaring at the man and if looks could kill Clint Barton would be long gone.

"Well I don't care" Ember rolled her eyes catching Steve's attention "You've saved my grandmother's life, I should return the favor. Besides she would never forgive me for not helping Barnes"

Steve sighed knowing there was no changing her mind, she was stubborn just like his old friend. He noticed the stare Bucky was giving the girl, so he decided to introduce them "Bucky, this is Ember Snow, she's - "

But Cap didn't need to finish the sentence Bucky knew who she was by just looking at her "Ana's granddaughter. The eyes give her away"

Bucky keeps staring at those eyes that seem so familiar, he could never forget the woman who had those eyes green eyes. Eyes so bright and so full of hope that he never thought anyone could have but Ana, yet, many years later there stood Ember a girl with the same eyes, who looked a lot like the woman he knew. Like the woman he lost.

Noticing his best friend has been taken to another time Steve cleared his throat making Bucky snap out of his thoughts "I was really sorry when I heard about her death"

"Right" said Ember staring at the ground sadly, remembering the brave woman that passed less than a year ago "She spoke very highly of you, of both of you" continued the girl looking fondly at the two men that meant so much to her grandmother.

"Alright" interrupted Scott with an excited grin trying to lighten the mood " Captain America! It's an honour." he finally introduced himself shaking Steve's hand "I'm shaking your hand too long.Wow! This is awesome!Captain America." Scott told Wanda, looking very excited "I know you, too. You're great!" The rest of the team kept looking at him weirdly while he touched Cap's muscles "Jeez."

They continued talking but Ember stopped listening until an alarm sounded all over the airport.

"They're evacuating the airport" traduced Bucky.

"Stark" replied Sam, looking at Steve.

"Stark?" asked Ember and Scott at the same time, not understanding what Tony Stark had to do with anything.

Instead of giving them anyone giving them an answer, everyone started shifting on their feet.

"Suit up" ordered Steve.

❅

[word count: 1464]

A/n: gif made by the amazing Iycanthropy !

Not edited