↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

The young captive pressed her back against the concrete wall as she scanned her surroundings. Her breath stayed low as the cool April air just barely reflected off of the glowing moonlight.

Her mismatched eyes focused on the cameras above. Waiting for them to shift ever so slightly so she could escape, sprinting to the next blind spot. Throwing her back against the flower arrangements as she prepared to move once more, only to hear a few voices heading in her direction. Shit.

Diana Rogers-Stark hunched lower, hiding within the shadows as the two guards walked right past the teen. She knew escaping during the shift change had it's risks, but what other option did the young Avenger have?

Once they past her she waited. Counting to ten before slipping past the corner of the obscure building and bolted towards the next location. The blonde stood light on her feet and made sure to stay in the darkest parts of the courtyard before making it to her desired location.

She found it rather ironic that the abilities she had were so useful for an attempted escape from captivity, but at the same time too risky to even consider an option. Not that they would even be considered useful as Diana's abilities were so limited.

After the events in New York Diana had gained the abilities of the space stone she had accidentally touched. Portals. Or Pockets, which her cousin Tony Stark had under trademark for her.

In theory they would be a perfect power to escape her captors, but in practice they were nothing short of a disadvantage, due to their massive blue glow surrounding them.

Not only would using one lead to the hostage being spotted almost instantly, but the girl was still very inadequate. The sizing was a constant struggle. As of then she could have them be the size of her own body or the height and width of a softball. No bigger, no smaller, no in between.

That's not even accounting the fact of how much energy is drawn out of the fourteen year-old's body every time she conjures up one. Or how the furthest she could travel was five steps. It was basically useless.
 
So Diana stuck to her backup plan, a good old break in the fence. Which she happened to noticed last night after one of her scheduled guarded walks. It looked rather rusted, probably due to the water being so close, but the captive was certain with enough force it could break.

The Avenger's black converse were just the kick the rust needed to make the chain link fence break apart. Her Stark smirk, courtesy of her late mother, shinned in victory as she stared at her escape.

After a quick dust off the girl threw her getaway bag over her pale and scarred shoulder. Looking behind her and giving her prison a final glance. Sending it a single fingered gesture before sauntering away.

Diana had a bounce in her step as she cut through the forest, smirking while counting the steps, "One, two, three, four..."

"Five?" A new voice asked.

Her body completely paused mid-step at the noise. Whipping her head back to see the legendary Captain America leaning against a tree. Her yellow and blue eyes widened as he smirked, "H-Hi dad."

Steve Rogers glanced around the woods just outside of the Avengers Compound before back to his daughter, "Going somewhere?"

"What?" She nervously chuckled, "No?"

He tilted his head, "No?"

"No," Diana tightened the hold on her bag's straps. "I'm just on a walk."

He glanced between his daughter and the bag, "So you just decided to go on a walk outside of our property lines... in a black dress?" He crossed his arms.

She took a moment to nod, "I like to be fancy when I go on my night walks. You should try it sometime, it's fun."

"Where did you even get that dress? It's way to short for you."

She shrugged, "Wanda let me borrow it for the pa- for the night walk."

His brows lowered, "Wanda let you borrow an inappropriate dress for a night walk outside of the property line?"

"Yes," she tried to ignore the comment about the dress that covered half of her knees. It didn't seem that inappropriate to her, but then again her father was born in a very different generation.

Though technically Diana was as well, yet it wasn't as if she remembered her time in the Hydra Lad anyways.

"Oh, okay," he nodded before pulling out his phone. "So you weren't trying to sneak out to go to the party at the Hammer house, huh?" He revealed a photo of Harry Hammer on his Instagram.

His daughter's eyes widened for a moment before shaking her head, "No?" I cringed.

Diana wasn't friends with the Hammer family. Definitely not after the events at the expo a few years back; but they still had connections.

After Justin Hammer was sent to prison his only son was sent to live with his Aunt in New York City, Mandy Zimmer. The CEO of a company called Oscorp.

Because Diana's cousin Tony felt so sorry for the boy he decided to extend an olive brach to the massive tech company.

Diana still wasn't friends with Harry, not by a long shot. But thanks to Tony every time the girl went to an event with him she'd see the cocky boy flirting with anything that breathed.

It wasn't like she necessarily wanted to go to his graduation party, and she knew the invite she received was out of obligation, but... Any chance to get out of here was worth it.

Diana's father let out a long and drawn out sigh as his hand ran down his face, "Let's go back inside," he lightly grabbed her arm and led the teen back towards the fenced compound.

Not that she didn't pitch a fit. Groaning the entire walk back and all the way up to the Avenger's private quarters. Not stopping to complain.

And to add insult to injury when we made it to the living room Natasha and Wanda were sitting on the couch waiting for them, "Oh so the little lady is back from her soirée already?" Natasha chuckled, "How far did you get this time?"

"Five steps outside the property line," Steve huffed.

"Only five?" Wanda leaned fully back so she could look over.

"It was still five," he pulled Diana along.

"Hm, I expected her to get further this time," Natasha told her apprentice.

Wanda let out a small chuckle, "Five steps is a new record though. I'll add it to the list," she plucked a notebook off the table and began to scribble in it.

Steve let out a small groan, "Guys I told you, enough with the damn escape book," he yanked it from their hands.

"Well how else are we supposed to keep track of her little adventures? It's good research, no?" Wanda raised a brow.

"I personally like to read them outloud after she gets caught," Nastaha snickered. "Remember that time she tried to swim her way out?"

Wanda laughed, "No, the best was the tunnel attempt."

"I would've made it across if Vision didn't phase through the wall," Diana rolled her eyes as her father pulled her along.

"Well I'm glad he did," he said as we walked to the young girl's so-called room.

Pulling back the purple curtain that separated Diana's cell from the rest of the prison, he made her sit on the bed so he could begin the bi-weekly scolding. Captain America had taken away his child's door privileges not long after the eighth attempt to sneak out. Wanda and Sam were the main ones against it, even going so far to throw an entire bowl of fruit at the soldier.

Diana would look back and liked to refer to the entire ordeal as 'The War of the Door'. Her cousin had even gotten involved. People were all on opposite sides trying to figure out what to do until Tony came up with a compromise, and thus the purple blanket we used as a curtain was nailed to the doorframe.

Another reason to hate this place. At least Hydra gave Diana a little privacy. It may have been a 5x5 cell, but at least she knew it was safe.

Steve stood a few feet away from her as he took in a deep huff. His hands were connected and rested over his nose as he tried to find the words to belittle Diana once more, "What were you thinking?"

She sighed and glanced towards the window, not really caring, "I just wanted to go to Harry's graduation party," she crossed her arms.

"And I already told you tonight wasn't a good night," he explained.

"I still could've gone."

"Really?" He crossed his arms and hunched over to get eye level with the girl, "With who?"

"I could've gone by myself dad-"

"That's not gonna happen and you know it," he cut her off.

She groaned, "Which isn't fair. I'm not a little kid anymore."

"You are to me and you are to the government. It's not safe for you out there," he pointed to the outside world.

"That's the thing, it is safe. It's safe because all of you guys are around," Diana told him. "Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. I can protect myself!"

With a flick of the hand Diana made a Pocket swallow her whole and appeared right behind him, "See?"

He didn't drop his glare he had grown from his conversation with Wanda and continued to stare down at the fourteen year-old, "Dad, I'm able to make Pockets appear at will and my Command only works without my glasses. You don't need to worry about my powers going sideways."

He lightly grabbed her shoulders and made her sit back on the bed again, "That's not what I'm worried about Diana."

"Dad, come on. Ultron was six months ago and he never singled me out. The entire Hydra ordeal was over two and Loki was four. Back then I wasn't able to do what I can now. I don't see why I can't go to a party without my dad there."

"Why? Because I said so," he said. "Plain and simple as that."

She huffed, "Dad-"

"Don't. I said don't," he squeezed his eyes shut before pitching the bridge of his nose. "If I say I don't want you to do something you don't do it. That's what I don't understand, how is that such a hard concept for you to grasp?"

"I just wanted to go out of the facility for once. Just a bit of freedom from this place," she gestured to the window.

"Then you have to earn it. Something you definitely haven't considering this book right here," he slapped the front before turning the pages. "October 18th, Diana tried to portal her way out resulting in her ending up in the shower with Vision."

"In my defence I was just getting used to my pockets and how was I supposed to know Vison showers? He's a robot."

He lowered his brows even further and continued to read random exerts, "November 7th, Diana hid inside the laundry cart not realising it was only being transferred to another location on the grounds. January 1st, Diana waited for the clock to strike midnight so she could sneak out when the rest were drunk and distracted, forgetting her father can't get drunk. January 3rd, the iced water incident. January 7th- the list goes on, Diana!"

The girl threw my head back and fully landed on my bed, "Don't you start with me," he continued to scold her. "I'm sick of you doing this and it's going to stop now."

He held his hand out and repeatedly opened and closed his fist, "Phone please."

Without fighting she pulling out the device and handing it to him. He quickly took it and waved it in Diana's face, "And all your other devices too."

Her mouth gapped, "You're joking."

"Does it look like I'm joking?" he said with no kindness left in his voice.

The teen looked between him and the only sources of entertainment and sighed. Her lips went into a fine line as he took away Diana's laptop, television, Nintendo and even the stereo system.

"This is going to stop and it's going to stop now," Diana fought the urge to roll her eyes as his scolding started to come to a close. "You will get these back once you prove yourself worthy."

As she learned recently his scoldings were structured like a Drill Sergeant yelling at a simple cadet. From the way he spoke to the strange punishments she was given. Then he finished his whole performance with an apology for how he acted and made Diana promise that she would never try again, something they both knew was a lie.

He gave the blonde a hug and told her to go to sleep and we'd have a fresh start in the morning when he returned home.

Once he finally left Diana let out a massive groaned, throwing myself into my sheets and staying there for at least a few hours.

The date was April 4th, 2016. The settling, the barren, unfashionable no-man's land between long guarded fences and the ocean. Aka, Avengers Compound.

Diana knew it's not the worst place she could have ended up. She had been in worse. There was the vault she was raised in before Shield found her, the places Loki brought her once she was kidnapped by him or any facility Shield had her stuffed in.

Hell, most kids seem to want to be where she was right now. The Avengers Compound. The place where the Earth's Mightiest Heroes live, eat, sleep, train and plan their adventures at. It should be a paradise for all, and it technically was, but it seemed like the only people who could enjoy it were the ones who actually grew up outside of it.

Diana Rogers-Stark was going to be fifteen years old in exactly one month's time and up until then, she had never gone anywhere or have done anything without a guardian present.

Fifteen was such a crazy age as well. Even if she was technically born in the forties Diana was only mentally at the age of a teenager. Being raised in Hydra before Tony took care of her after being rescued.

Which suddenly changed when Steve came back and from that point on Diana had been bouncing from one place to another. Never having any normalcy.

There were things that she should have experienced, but thanks to her family and the craziness she endured she never could.

Diana should've graduated from grade school and middle school. She should've been at the mall with my friends buying unnecessary clothing they don't need but want. She should've been getting make-up lessons and haircuts from her mom. Know how to ride a bike, play soccer, be in school musicals, and have friends!

But Diana never got that. Instead the last fifteen years have been nothing but training and working for people who either don't care about her or put too much pressure on her.

She actually found it funny when she look back at how much she wanted to help out as a kid. How eager she used to be in order to help save the day, what a joke.

Diana understood she had a duty to help people. She was the daughter of the legend Morgan Stark and Steve Rogers. Lady Liberty and Captain America. It was in her blood to help save the day, but she felt like it should also have a choice. Her choice. Not an obligation.

She remembered once hearing someone say, 'With great power comes great responsibility', but that's just not right.

Diana never once asked for any of these abilities. She was born with strength and speed, due to the serum Steve took. While Command, a power she absolutely despised, that gave her the ability to give orders to anyone she looked at, and Pockets were forced upon her by some stupid stones.

Why should she be forced to help people when she can't even tie my own shoes properly yet?

Steve loved to say that one day she would understand. That one day she'd 'Find her reason and person to fight for'. Bullshit.

She huffed and slowly reached over towards the glittery guitar Tony gave her years ago and started to mindlessly strum. A stress reliever she thoroughly enjoyed.

Just like her mother Diana had a love for all things music, just thanks to how overprotective Steve was she could never go further. At one point she dreamed of being an actress on Broadway, but with the way she was treated she knew it wasn't achievable. Not now. Not ever.

She still didn't understand why she had to fight. Everyone who she would need to fight for is already fighting twice as hard for Diana. Why should she stand in the way?

Not counting the things she had done with the Avengers, Diana have nothing to show for my life. Real things that is. The things she always wanted to do, things that were important to her, always are put under people she didn't even know or like.

The world had dwindling hope and praise for the Avengers, why should she ever fight for those who hate her? Why should she always give up her own dreams for them?

Diana's childhood had been nothing but giving and giving and giving and giving. Childhood ends at the age of eighteen and in some cultures you become a woman at the age of fifteen. So she already was technical an adult!

Fifteen over Eighteen. 15/18 that's how much of her childhood is gone.

Diana was going to be fifteen years old and had absolutely never done anything in her life.

Happy birthday to Diana.

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

When morning came Diana's green watch began to uncontrollably beep until she lifted herself out of bed. With a quick groan, followed by a single second unkempt tantrum, the girl got up and changed into something more appropriate.

Steve would never let her wear anything below the knees, saying it wasn't lady like and since she was the Lady, Diana must wear appropriate attire.

Luckily it was still cold enough for legging and an oversized green sweater. Pair that with the special watch Tony made for his cousin, containing timers of her schedule as well as a tracker on her energy levels, she was all set for the very exciting day before her.

Sending a small wave towards Vision and Wanda the watch began to repeatedly beep as Diana passed them. Since the bot had an infinity stone embedded in his head, Diana had to keep a distance. Ever since she had the... incident with the Tesseract and Mind Stone, the Avengers agreed to never let Diana within five feet of Vision for both of their safeties.

"Morning Diana, sleep well?" He smiled.

She shrugged, "Better than the night before."

Wanda slid a plate towards the end of the table, "I'm sorry about the dress. I thought your dad would let you go."

"Don't worry about it," the girl made a Pocket appear so she could grab the apple juice next to her. "I'm sorry for getting you in trouble."

"You should be. He came into our room last night complaining about how not to give a child her 'revealing clothing'," Vision chuckled, making her raise a brow.

Placing her drink down and rested her hand on her scarred cheek, "Our room?" The teen smirked, looking between the two.

Wanda sent a glare as she elbowed the robot, "I-! We were simply watching that show you told us about, The Walking Dead. It's much more gruesome than what the two of us usually watch," Vision exclaimed.

"A show we can no longer watch as Steve took away my television privileges for a month thanks to you," she crossed her arms.

Diana chuckled and finished off her waffles, "You got off easy. I've got nothing until further notice."

"Maybe next time don't try to run away so easily," she took the empty plate. "You are quite quiet but your father knows you well," she messed up the young girls hair before Diana's next alarm went off on the watch.

"That's breakfast," she smacked her lips together before getting up. "I'll see you guys at dinner?"

"After dinner," she frowned. "Vis and I are volunteering at a refugee centre for the afternoon."

Diana's smile flattened slightly, "Oh. Okay, I'll see you later."

After finishing her jog around the facility Diana made my way towards room 623, otherwise known as 'The School Room'. It wasn't much, not that it could be anyways. Just a simple bland room with a single desk and a Smart Board.

Steve told her that it could be decorate it anyway she wanted but Diana never bothered. It wasn't like she did her room in that cell anyways.

Sauntering over towards the desk Diana picked up the basket of her daily lessons and was on her way. Since all the lessons were online it made it easier. After Shield fell Steve didn't trust anyone in the Avengers private quarters yet, so there wasn't really much of a choice.

Plus Diana had the perfect place to work always.

Once she made it to her destination she threw her stuff on the ground before plopping down as well. On the top of the tallest building in the facility had this beautiful greenhouse filled with nothing but flowers.

Plus it gave her this beautiful view of beyond both sides of the compound. She could see the never ending trees to the left and the endless ocean to the right.

With her back pressed against a planter Diana pulled out her English homework and began to read The Merchant of Venice.

Taking in the calming scent of lavender and pretended she was actually in a real garden in the backyard of a small cottage that didn't exist, reading to escape chores.

Something Diana learned over the years was that anything can be real in her own imagination. Imaginary friends, homes and even careers lived up there. It helped her, since playing pretend was the only thing that couldn't be taken away yet.

Once three hit, and another alarm went off, she packed up her belongings and left the greenhouse. Returning it back to the classroom so they could send it in for grading.

Now it was time for physical training.

As she passed by multiple staff members ranging from soldiers stationed at the weapon's base, faculty from Stark Industries and simply busy bee workers, Diana received many hellos and greeting.

Keeping on a smile she waved back and prepared to practise her abilities with whatever fellow Avenger was assigned for the day.

Since Steve didn't want her to be as out of shape, as after Ultron had almost killed her because of it, he made training became important in her routine.

Then once that training ended and dinner was over, Diana couldn't help but drag her into my room and flop face first into her bed.

Only to do the same thing again, and again, and again, and again.

Not taking long for her to break and try to escape again. Glancing at her backpack and debated on trying once more. But then again, what can you do?

Waiting until nightfall before stuffing her bag full of necessities. Some spare money she had hidden, a few pairs of pants and shirts.

As she took some jewellery she could sell at some pawnshop for a fresh start she actually bumped the photo of her and her father. Before Ultron had happened Tony wanted some group photos of them so he could hang them around the apartment, and printed some off for the Rogers.

Diana's favourite being a selfie of her and her dad in matching Hamilton shirts next to the theatre doors, which was the teen's favourite musical. Though not a musical she dreamed of being in, that was playing Sophie in Mama Mia, but being Eliza one day was not a problem for either.

Placing the frame facing downwards on the table, she zipped up her bag. Sneaking around the corner she made her way into the laundry hamper and took a ride towards the laundry station. Once their shift was over Diana pulled herself out of the pile of dirty clothing and grabbed one of the spare uniforms and placed it on.

She took a smaller cart and put her bag inside, covering it in more clothing and stole a key card so she could head to the sanitization truck. If she could hop on the truck and Pocket her way out after a random stop, she could finally leave this place for good.

The teen couldn't help but smirk as she opened up the back of the truck so she could hide inside... only to see her father standing inside waiting for her.

He grabbed Diana by the wrist and began to lead the child back inside.

Of course Diana tried again, resulting in Natasha grabbing her by the ear and pulling her away from the doors.

She grunted after the next attempt, when Wanda used her powers to pick the teen out of the water and force Diana back to the facility.

Though she'd preferred Wanda's powers over when Sam decided to sick Red Wing after her when he caught the girl in the trees.

But none would ever top when Diana tried to sparaticaly Pocket herself so they wouldn't be able to catch her. Resulting in Steve and Sam having to each grab Diana by an arm and bring her back inside.

And every time they brought her back inside, Diana had lost another privilege. No games, no movie nights, no music and no freedom.

Not that she had any to begin with.

Soon this place had become an actual prison of sorts. All rooms outside of the private quarters needed to now be either keycard access or fingerprint. In order for her to actually leave the quarters Diana needed to hold down my print with another individual with access.

So as Diana Rogers stayed her my room and crossed off the latest day on her calendar, she couldn't help but tear it off of the wall, rustling in the top ripping away from bottom.

She screamed through her teeth and tore the stupid calendar up piece by piece.

For after all what could she do since Diana would be fifteen tomorrow. Goodbye childhood, she never had you.

•••