THE RAFT - NADiA'S POiNT OF ViEW

I cough into the muzzle and the smell of spit makes my stomach queasy. My jaw hurts from trying to bite the side of the muzzle. My arms are stiff and I can almost hear the blood moving slowly in my arms. They put me in a muzzle because I kept calling them names. I didn't know that 'Arsehole' went across to them as what I truly meant.

The sound of clapping causes me to slowly raise my eyes from their position on the grey floor. "The Futurist, people! The Futurist is here!" Clint is clapping at someone, who? I can't see much further since the spell for my eyes wore off last night. I squint against the lights and see the vague outline of... Tony?

Holy shit– this is the nightmare I had before the fight...

"He knows what's best for you, whether you like it or not! Better watch your back, there's a chance he's gonna break it." Clint's voice lowers in volume at the end of his sentence and I stare back at the ground again.

Tony walks past the cell and I stare right into his eyes, I use as much energy as I can to show him just how much pain I am in. I scream in agony as the collar zaps me, I fall onto my side and hit my head with a crack. My eyes fall shut with ease as I lay limp against the shocks coursing through my blood.

I try my best to stay awake but my body forces me to sleep.

TEN MiNUTES LATER - NADiA'S POiNT OF ViEW

The electricity ends with a sudden halt. My eyes fly open with happiness. My happiness is short-lived as my green eyes meet the brown eyes of one Tony Stark. "Hey, kid." I turn my face away from his and stare at the ground defiantly. The muzzle bites into the side of my cheek and I wince in pain.

I hear the sound of fingers on a screen and suddenly, the muzzle falls off my face. I go to hold my jaw and scowl when I remember that my arms are restrained in the straitjacket. I force the tears down as I wiggle up toward the wall and try to push myself up. "Why me?" My voice breaks with pain and I know it hit Tony in the face like a brick.

My neck is sore and my arms feel numb. "What do you mean?" He feigns innocent, he feigns ignorance.

I scoff loudly at him, the anger boiling like molten lava. "Really Tony? You're gonna play stupid? You didn't have to make this goddamn collar! I know you did! The first one I got off I saw something on the inside of it; Stark Industries. And I thought, 'No, he would never.' And then on the second collar... it said the same thing. Now I have one question," I cough loudly and blood splats on the floor, Tony looks concerned. "Why me, Tony?"

He doesn't have an answer as he gapes like a fish out of water. "I didn't do this, Nadia. Please believe me, I didn't want anyone to get hurt but you guys wouldn't stop. The only thing I could do was make sure you guys didn't die. And I did that, so my job is done." I laugh dryly and position myself so I meet his eyes with ease.

"And that makes you what, a Saint?" I question with venom laced on my tongue. I know I am hurting him, but he knows nothing of the capacity of my pain. He has no goddamn idea what I have been through because he was being nosy and spying on a kid. "I don't think you have the right to be entitled, Anthony." His facade of indifference and I see something real, some real pain.

Tony takes a deep breath, "Nadia, I swear to you, I will get you out of here." I shake my head.

"That's not good enough! What about Wanda? Huh? Or Scott! Did you know he has a daughter? Clint, Sam, Wanda, and I are fighting for our rights. Mostly Wanda and I but still– these accords are going to strip this team of its right to fight for people all around the world. And I won't stand idly watching as people die because of some petty rules!" My arms thrash against the straitjacket and I stare at him with anger.

He slams his hand against the door, "Nadia!" I roll my eyes, "listen, I care about you a lot. You and Pete are like my unofficial kids and... I don't know what I would do if... if something happened to you, I don't know what I would do, okay?" Tony's sigh is brief but deep. "I didn't make that collar, I would never do that! Plus, I shut down the weaponry branch of Stark Industries long ago!"

I shake my head slowly and the hot tears spill over my eyes and onto my cheeks.

"That isn't the point, Tony. The point is that your name is on the thing that's hurt me so badly on more than one occasion. You see, I saw you as a role model for a short period of time and... Now all I see when I look into your eyes is pain." I push myself into his mind and make him feel even a minuscule amount of pain I felt.

He slaps the side of his head before reaching his hand through the gate, "Please. Forgive me, you don't have to forget what happened but, please, Nadia, forgive me. I can't live without this team and Pepper, I can't lose another person. I've lost far too many people in my life and I don't think I could handle losing someone like you." I tilt my head to the side.

I laugh as the tears fall faster, "I want to forgive you, Tony. But I have never been one to layover and show my stomach. I care about you and everyone else a lot. But I refuse to... I refuse to let myself be used as a coping mechanism again! I will not be a tool, I am a girl! I am a child! And yes, Tony, I do love you. You and Nat are like my parents and sometimes... parents don't live up to their children's expectations.

"And that's fine, but there comes a time when you have to lose someone to live. And for me, that person may just be you, Tony. I wish–" A bright beam invades my vision and I scream in fear of my life. Am I going to heaven? Am I dying?! I keep screaming until I see yellow flicker before my eyes. Next thing I know, I'm passing out on cool golden tiles.

THE END

Wow! What a wild five months it's been! I began writing this book on July 4th because I wrote a poem about a girl with amazing archery skills and the ability to see in the dark. I then went on my laptop and translated the word "Nocturnal", into Latin and got the title for this story.

I didn't expect this story to get much attention or love and boy, did it! I know 15k doesn't seem like a lot to some people, but to me, that is massive!

But, god! I am so, so thankful for every single reader, voter, and commentor! I get that her story is the stereotypical Avengers fic story but I think that once everything is revealed it will all make sense. I have an entire universe planned out for you guys and cannot wait for you guys to see it.

As usual, have a wonderful day/night, and thank you for reading: Nocturnus / How Nadia Oakley became an Avenger.

Once again, thank you all so, so much <3