Once I bring the food down for the two other nerds in the lab, we all take a break to eat. The tension in the room is less thick, however, Loki's words are still cemented in my mind. I keep coming back to them, let alone because I am simply curious about the person he mentioned since I am naturally a curious person, but also because of the truth that I could hear in his words.

How could anyone actually care for me as much as he claimed? Especially since we literally only just met recently and have only exchanged a few words with each other.

As my mind is wandering with these thoughts, I become more aware of myself and my body, and that is when I notice the same full and safe feeling still lingering in my chest that is almost becoming a constant in my life. It feels tight, yet extremely comforting, and it fills me whenever I am even around Loki. Additionally, it has seemed to become even more prominent with time over the past few days. Now, even when I simply pass him in the hallway or walk into the room he is in, or just left, I feel light and full all at the same time. It is like I have a piece that I am missing that I never knew about before, but now it is very obvious that without being by him or the lady in my dreams, there is something very much absent that should be there.

Suddenly, I am broken out of my daydream when Tony speaks up.

"I don't feel like working anymore, why don't we go watch a movie? We can see if anyone else wants to join as well."

I look toward Peter, who has a massive smile on his face, conflicted.

"I don't know, I should probably be going soon-"

But I am cut off by Peter before I can finish. "Come on Finn! It will be fun! You can have fun for one night, and we can leave right after."

I contemplate it for several moments. I really really do not want to go home, more specifically, home to Ms. Santina. I am sure that the kids will be fine for this one evening. Plus, I deserve to take a breath, to relax without fear of what is waiting for me on the other side of the door. I deserve a night to myself.

"Fine, but only one movie, it is already late." I give in.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

After settling down in the living room, Clint and Wanda join us as well. We debate for much longer than I would like to admit on what movie to watch but eventually settle on Back To The Future.

Just as we are about to start the movie, Tony decides that this is a group activity everyone needs to be a part of and announces it over the speaker system. Soon, the entire team, even Bucky once Steve dragged him down here, are all squished on the couches and across the floor like a pack of sardines. Well, everyone besides Loki.

The others were still cruel towards Loki and were most likely rather relieved that he was not here; and even though normally I would protest this and make sure he was included as well, today I didn't necessarily have a strong urge to see him again after our confrontation earlier. I need to first figure out my feelings toward the greasy god, and I also did not appreciate him cornering me for answers, it was a close call. Call me petty, but am gladly avoiding him currently.

Once everyone finally gets situated I find myself sandwiched between Peter and Clint on a large couch that also holds Tony and Wanda. Leaning up against the couch on the floor is Pietro, who built an entire little nest out of blankets and pillows. Bruce, Natasha, and Rhodey are sitting on the other couch across from me, which puts me in perfect view to witness how Natasha keeps looking back at me with furrowed brows out of the corner of my eye. The resident old man Steve is sitting in an armchair and Bucky is sitting on the floor leaning against it by Steve's legs. Sam decides to join Pietro in his nest, and at the last second Thor forcefully squeezes between me and Clint on the couch, causing us all to squeeze uncomfortably close together. However, I am used to crowded living quarters, so it isn't too much of an issue for me, I just lean in slightly closer to Peter on my right as I feel more comfortable with him.

Blankets are passed around and spread out along with bowls of popcorn and snacks. The Avengers really take their movie nights seriously.

Once everyone is finally settled Tony loudly shushes everyone as he starts the movie.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It is about two-thirds of the way through the movie. Peter to my right is still intently watching the movie. Tony, to Peter's right, is tinkering with some small gadget that keeps occasionally sparking causing Peter to nearly fall off of the couch every time. Clint kept throwing popcorn at the back of Pietro's head until his popcorn privileges were provoked and his bucket was confiscated by Wanda. Bruce is seeming to be literally taking notes on the movie and will very often but in to let us know that the movie is very scientifically inaccurate and that is not how time travel works. Nat still seems to be more focused on me than the movie which is very unsettling. Rhodey keeps telling Bruce to shut up. Steve is loudly snoring in the recliner, truly looking like the old man that he is. Bucky seems to actually be enjoying the movie. Sam has been loudly snacking for the entire movie, seeming to be here more for the food than the movie. Lastly, I have learned that Thor is an awful person to watch movies with. He loudly comments on every single thing and expresses every thought and feeling on every part. He is usually met with the sound of pretty much everyone in the room shushing him before he can even get his words out at this point.

I am actually enjoying the movie and I am very much enjoying the relaxing evening where I actually get to be the kid that I am for at least one evening. But suddenly, reality comes crashing down once again when my phone rings.

Everyone instantly shushes me when I take it out to see who is calling, when I do my heart drops and my anxiety rises.

I abruptly stand up and quickly leave the living room and walk towards the kitchen while I cover the speaker with my hand so as to not disturb anybody. Peter is the only one that looks away from the screen and towards me and takes in my anxious appearance; but I don't say anything, I only hastily continue towards the kitchen where I then rapidly answer the call.

"Brie?"

I only hear rapid panicked breathing on the other side, this causes my breath to accelerate as well.

"Brie, what is going on? Talk to me." I try to keep my voice calm so as to not betray the fear that is building. I should not have stayed.

"S-she... Ms. Santina is really angry, Finnley."

"Oh gods, ok, um I am going to get there as fast I can, just hang in there ok?" Panic seeps through my voice; I know that she is more than just angry.

I rush as fast as I can towards the elevator without even looking back toward the others in the living room, even though I can feel their eyes on me. As I run through the hall, still clutching the phone to my ear, keeping Brie on the line, I nearly run into Loki. But without much thought and without any words, I push past him, not having time for apologies, and aggressively and continuously hitting the button to call the elevator as if that will make it come faster.

As I finally enter the elevator, I start to nervously speak to Brie again.

"Are you all safe? Where are you guys?" I ask only the important questions.

"Yes, we are safe. We are all in the Chris's, Tom, Anthony, and Sebastian's room. We barricaded the door, but she is still trying to get in." She pauses and I can hear the shake in her voice along with the rattling and pounding on the door through the speaker. "I'm really scared Finnley, I don't know what to do."

I nearly break down at that. Why did I have to be selfish? Why did I stay?

"It's going to be ok- listen to me, I promise it is going to be ok," I say, not even sure if I believe my own words. "I will be there in a little bit, I am getting there as fast as I can, just hold on for me ok?"

By this time the elevator finally stops and I get to the lobby. I instantly break out into a sprint, not caring how insane I look, only on the safety of my siblings.

14 blocks away.

My legs are already burning and I don't think I have ever run faster in my life. Sprinting through the busy New York sidewalks, I push past people without care, never once breaking my pace.

Why was I so stupid?

With heavy and labored breath I speak into the phone again. "Brie? Are you still there?"

12 blocks away.

I hear a small hum on the other side of the line.

"Can you please give the phone to Scarlet?"

How could I abandon them?

I hear the rustling of the phone being passed.

"Finnley?" Scarlet's nervous voice comes through.

9 blocks away.

"I'm almost there, I'll be there in a few minutes. Can you tell me what is going on?" I ask, trying to get an idea of what I will be running into.

How could I have put them in danger?

She takes in a shaky breath. "We are not really sure, she came home really upset, I think her boyfriend broke up with her. She started picking fights with the kids, especially Tom, and she destroyed his ballet shoes. Then Robert stood up to her, it did not go well, it really did not go well. She got a few hits on him before we got him and all of us up here. She has been trying to get in but I don't think she can find the key."

5 blocks away.

"Ok, just keep everyone calm, I'm almost there," I say with determined fear in my voice.

How could I do this to them?

"Hurry Finnley, the door looks like it is giving way." I hear the fear in her voice and also the sound of her shushing and comforting the other kids.

2 blocks away.

"I'm almost there, I'm almost there just hold on. Please just hold on."

Why was I so selfish?

I can't feel my legs, but I blindly push them to move me even faster.

1 block away.

I hear a loud crash and several screams through my phone, but I also hear it from the orphanage that is now in sight once I turn the corner.

How could I fail them?

I sprint up the front steps, skipping several at a time and throwing the door open before I slam into it.

Not breaking my pace, I weave between the halls and up the staircase as fast as humanly possible.

When I get to the top of the stairs, the sight in front of me causes my blood to boil and every protective instinct in me drives me forward with a flame in my step.

Ms. Santina is just stepping over the door that has fallen to the ground and broken off its hinges, slowly stalking toward the group of defenseless kids cowering in the corner.

Burning on pure instinct and rage, I lunge at Ms. Santina, tackling her to the ground. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───