I made an aesthetic for Maya. What do you think?
It's not that good but as usual I try my best.

********

"Come in," Dad said, placing an arm around my shoulders. "We can have dinner. It's been a while since we've all had dinner together."

He reached out his hand, asking for the dagger. I brushed his hand off me, telling him to fuck off with my eyes rather than my lips. Dad must've got the message because he smiled coldly as if I had told him something funny.

Gods, my family was fucked up.

The cabin was small, I could tell it was just for a weekend getaway for one. There was a fireplace, a table and a tiny Kitchenette. Opposite of the fireplace was a door to what I assumed to me the bed room.

"You take forever," Mimi said leaning against the back of her chair. "You know that, kiddo?"

She was dressed impeccably in white as usual. Around her shoulders was draped a white fur coat, under that was a white pantsuit. The only thing that was t white was her bow tie that stood out stark red like a drop of blood in snow.

Amid was more or less dressed for the occasion in all black (minus the fur) contrasting Miriam, his tie was an ice blue.

Mom was next to him unconscious, slumped in her chair as he arms were bound behind her. My heart wrenched in my chest and there was a lump in my throat, I wanted to cry out and go to her but this wasn't the time emotions. We could have a reunion when she was safe.

That is if I made it out in one piece.

"Alright, assholes." I said sitting down at the opposite end of the table. If they were surprised by my use of language they didn't show it. "I'm here now so cut the bullshit and let mom go. That was the deal, my life for hers. I even brought this stupid USB drive."

If mom woke up, I'm pretty sure she would want to kick my ass for doing this.

"Strait to the point as ever," Amid drawled as he picked at the food in his plate. "Alright then, we want you. Specifically your blood. If you fight back or doing anything, we'll kill her before you can stop our hearts."

"Why would you need my blood?" I asked. "Didn't you get that already? I'm assuming you need me for experiments."

"And I'm assuming you don't know whats on that USB you stole?" Dad asked. "I know Dr. Bahl was cautious but encrypting his files and then hiding it away in a flash drive is a bit too much."

SHIELD had been trying for months to crack the flash drive but all efforts had been futile. Dr. Bahl gave me the USB drive just before he died making me promise to keep it safe from my father. Whatever he had in here would either doom the world or save it.

"I can't open it."

"Of course you can't." Amid outstretched his hand. "Don't you want to know what Dr. Bahl found?"

The USB flash drive felt like lead in my pocket.

"Yeah," I nodded my head. "I do but I don't trust you. You have your bartering chip and I have mine."

"Don't he stupid, little bir--"

"Maya."

"What?"

"Maya. Call me Maya." I said to Amid, glaring. "You lost the right to call me Little Bird a long time ago."

Amid rolled his eyes, Miriam snickered, and dads smile turned more creepy.

"Okay, Maya." Miriam mocked.

"Dr. Bahl, rest his soul, was doing some reaserch for me." Dad spoke up. "I'm sure your mother told you about that tragic tale of how I went into the dessert and came back a different person." When I didn't answer he continued. "Over dramatic. Okay, she has her right to complain but that story was true, my little bird."

I gritted my teeth reaching for the dagger forgetting that he had it. There was nothing I could do but use my powers, however I didn't want to get mom killed so I took a deep breath and resigned to continue glaring holes into his forehead.

"We are gifted, Maya." Dad said.

I tilted my head in confusion. Was he just stating the obvious or was he trying to tell me something in the vaguest way possible?

"We come from an ancient race of humans with a variety of abilities gifted by the gods." Amid said. "I, you and we. All of us are one of the very last bloodlines."

"Gifts from the gods?" I scoffed. "Sure."

"Don't be such a naysayer, darling." Miriam clucked. "That's quite hypocritical coming from you. Who's that beautiful hunk of blonde hair and muscle on your team, again?"

"Cap? Or Thor?" I raised my eyebrow. "You gotta be more specific, darling."

"Enough of this." Dad outstretched his hand, the smile on his face but it was tight and rehearsed. "Give me the flash drive. It's part of our bargain."

"No," I said. Gripping the USB in my hand.

'Loki, if you can hear me and I know you can, get ready. Things are gonna get messy.'

I prayed to the gods that he was listening to me.

Outside, the sounds of war could be heard. That meant one of two things and I was hoping that I wasn't alone if I stepped outside. My father must have sensed the shift in his soldiers so he dropped his carful and cold persona. The madness in his eyes was as obvious as the sky. 

"Maya, don't be-"

"Listen here, asshole!" I growled as I felt their heartbeats pick up in pace. Both of my hands were underneath the table, I hooked my finger under the edge of the cuffs and pulled them off. "This is never going to fall into you hands!" I lifted my hand showing them the USB drive. "And I'm going to make sure you'll never hurt anybody I care about again with this!"

The blood dripped from my hand, red streams reflecting in the firelight. With a wave of my hand the red tendrils wrapped around the USB crushing it. The fragment fell out of my hand clattering on the wooden floors below.

"No!" My father raised the dagger, aiming at me.

Without a moments hesitation, I lifted my hand sending his body slamming into the wall. I didn't know if he was unconscious or he was dead, I didn't care. I had more important matters to deal with.

Amid had kept up from his seat in the confusion, placing a gun against my mother's head.

"I'll do it, Maya." He threatened as his eyes shifted from dads slumped body next to me. "You know I will."

"Will you now?" I asked as I stepped over dad grabbing the dagger that laid in his hand.

"Miriam!" Amid yelled. "Stop her."

I turned to Miriam who was still sitting down with an impassive face and a steady heartbeat but I could see the hesitance in her eyes.

Her eyes glowed white threatening me but that was about it. I glared Miriam down as I made my way to Amid.

'Loki?!' I screamed internally hoping he still had my back. 'Now might be a good time to show up."

"Maya," Amid said. "You know what I can do. Do you really want to mess with me? I can cause you immense pain and suffering---"

"You already have," I said. "I'm done with this. Let her go, Amid. Last chance."

I felt his heartbeat spike and I knew he was afraid of me. Good, he should me. I was tired and I was done and I wanted to kill him.

He pressed the gun into her head and held her up as if he was going to bolt towards the door.

I saw his finger remove the safety and I knew I needed to acted fast. 

The crackle of the fire and wind outside filled the space between us. Tension filled the air as I steadied my breathing.

His finger moved to the trigger the same time I raised my hand. Miriam jumped at me knocking me to the floor as a bang went off causing my heart to rise up into my throat. Miriam had me pinned as I raised my head to head butt her. She groaned, rolling off me as she ruined her pristine white outfit. I gave her a good kick in the ribs not caring if I broke one. She deserved it.

I turned my head expecting the worse. I saw blood splattered against the colorful wallpaper making it look like a twisted mosaic.

"Loki," I breathed out.

He stood over Amid's body as he cleaned off his knife.

"I heard you," Loki said turning to look at me. "You're welcome. Did you think that I would abandon you, darling?"

"You took your time," I said as I ran to my mom. She was still knocked out but she was unhurt except the bruise on her face. I wanted to cry in happiness and hug Loki but I had Miriam to take care of.

"Miriam," I hissed as I glared at the spot where she was.

She was already up, leaning against the door as she clutched her side. Her expression was murderous and her white outfit ruined by the blood and dirt.

"We're not done," Miriam said, her voice venomous.

Her eyes went white and the fog filled the room. Another one of her illusions!

Crows emerged from the fog, attacking me and scratching at my face. I was gagging on the scent of blood that was filling my senses. Loki was affected by it too because he had summoned his magic. I heard him scream something as the illusion dispersed leaving us in the same room but Miriam had escaped through the door.

The sounds of carnage were louder as the door hung wide open. I could see the battle outside and I heard the familiar sound of pulsar canons.

We weren't alone after all.

I looked down at my mom, gathering her in my arms. I didn't want to leave her but I promised I would finish this.

I was doing this for us, I didn't want mom to ever be hurt again.

"Can you take care of her?" I asked Loki, begging him with my eyes. "I can't let Miriam go. I have to finish this."

Loki nodded, "I'll get her to safety."

"Thank you, Loki," I said.

"Maya," he said.

"Yes?"

His lips were pressed together in a thin line as I could see his carefully crafted facade fade for just a second. He took a deep breath in and then exhaled as if he was resigning to something. Whatever it was it could wait after this. We'd have plenty of time to talk about whatever it was he wanted to talk about.

"Just be careful."

I nodded and then turned, running out the door into the fray. It was time to hunt and the moon was out.

********

"Why is Thor with us?" Clint asked as he planted his feet on the dash.

"I can't fly everywhere, Barton." Thor said as he tried to make himself smaller by ducking down to no avail. "Besides, brother Stark has Vision with him. I would prefer to....what's the word.....chill?" He looked at Bucky who shrugged in respond. "Yes, I would prefer to chill with you."

"I dare you to move your shield one more goddamn time," Bucky growled as he tried his best not to become the Winter Pancake. "I dare you, Steve."

"Nat, tell me again why we aren't taking the Quinn jet?" Steve asked. 

"Because this isn't a mission."

"And yet we're fully armed," Thor pointed out as he held up Mjolnir.

"Just in case we need to kick Loki's ass all the way back to Asgard." She said pushing Clint's feet off the dashboard mid turn.

'Is auntie Nat a little overprotective?' Stark asked over the comm unit.

"If I remember correctly," she said as she kept her eye on the little red Blip on the screen that represented Maya. "You said you'd be taking the suit. Who's overprotective now?"

"Hey guys," Sam interrupted. "Not to get between your bickering but you may want to get your asses here."

"Did you find them?" Steve asked.

"No," he sounded a little worried that made Natasha increase her speed twenty points over he speed limit. "But I found something a little.....bizarre."

"Stop being so vague!" Bucky groaned.

"How bizarre?" Natasha asked.

"Like a mini army in the middle of the woods bad!" Sam said. "Oh shit!"

The sounds of a scourge could be heard through the speakers.

"Sam!"

"Multiple hostiles present! I repeat! Multiple hostiles present!"

More noise could be heard casing all of them to become alert. The stakes had suddenly risen.

"Well," Clint said as he zipped up his vest. "Good thing we came prepared."