↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

As Diana Rogers looked in the mirror she couldn't help but notice all the little cuts and markings that wove around her skin. It was kinda beautiful in a weird way. How her pink scars meshed with the healing bruises and slices she was gifted during the battles. Sadly, her black dress didn't help hide any of them considering how pale Diana's skin was. Making the bruises show up more prominently upon her skin.

Not all of them were from the battle with Ultron, no, they weren't even close to being the cause of a single fraction of her markings.

Stretching her arms out Diana allowed herself to continue staring at her body. The scars ranging from white to deep red seemed to be more visible then she would've liked as she moved around.

Steve liked his daughter to dress modestly, so thankfully no one could see the largest scar across her back that she obtained from Whiplash.

Though honestly Diana was surprised she hadn't gotten any new scars or marks on her feet after all the meetings and rallies she had to attend. You could already assume what happened after Ultron was defeated. So many interrogation, reports, paperwork and... testings.

Diana had voluntarily chosen to keep herself out of the drama. So she wasn't fully sure what was going on in the world. Only understanding the basics. That her father and the government made another deal about her abilities. Involving a small bit more training on control, but that was it.

She had also heard heard a couple of things through the halls about how the Avengers weren't as well liked as before, but again, that was it.

Giving one last at her appearance Diana let out a sigh and grabbed my concealer. Forcing it all to blend, masking the experiences she'd been through. Just because the world already knew what the daughter of Lady Liberty and Captain America went through didn't mean the people needed to see it.

Knock, knock knock. She quickly turned her head to the door as the girl's famous father poked his head through, "Are you decent?"

She meekly called out and allowed him to enter, causing him to look her up and down, "Wow. You look beautiful," he smiled.

"You always say that," Diana said with a roll of the eyes.

"Doesn't make it any less true," he came up and hugged her from behind.

She reached forward and locked her hand around his arm and gave it a small squeeze, "Yeah. Okay," she chuckled.

Diana assumed her nonexistent excitement for the event tonight was noticeable since he seemed to squeeze the girl a little tighter, "This is our last event, I promise you."

She hummed as he went on, "Then tomorrow we can head to our new home."

"Thank god," Diana smiled.

Over the course of everything she learned that Tony and her father had been working on a secret project of sorts. Near upstate New York they had built the Avengers a proper military style base. She haven't had a chance to visit it yet but from what Natasha had told her, it brought the ones with Shield to shame.

Wanda and Vision were the first to move in, going immediately after the battle for different reasons. Vision, so the world could get comfortable with the idea of a robot AI living among them. And Wanda so she could grieve the loss of her brother who didn't make it off the city.

Clint had the option to join the others at the base but decided it was time for him to officially retire from hero work. He'd said he'd come and visit Diana on her next birthday in a few months but until then he was planning on living his dream as a stay at home dad.

Thor was temporarily residing there before his next departure with Jane. Saying he was ready to try and live the midgardian way with her.

Natasha had spent the last two weeks going back and forth between the tower and base to make arrangements. It seemed as if she was only trying to keep her mind off of things since Bruce went completely M.I.A. Stealing a ship and going god knows where.

Diana just hoped he was okay wherever he was.

And as for Diana Rogers-Stark? She'd been stuck at the tower going to event after event with her dad and cousin. Showing their support to the lost and acting like she cared about whatever charity she went to that night. Of course she felt bad for what happened, but she was... well she was tired.

God she was so tired of the flashing lights.

"You're gonna love it there, my Songbird," Steve brought her back to reality. "There's a giant track around the base so we can get a good run in every morning. I've made sure the home theatre and game room are stocked in your liking and we specifically made your room higher so you can see the ocean from your room. You'll never want to leave."

"Great," she smiled thinking of the chance to sleep in bed for a solid five hours.

He pulled away and began to look at Diana through the mirror, "I worked on a rough draft of your new schedule too."

Now that made her brow raise, "My schedule?"

He nodded, "It's not gonna be too hard, don't worry about that, it's just a bit of thing we need to work on. Homeschooling, practice on your Pockets, stuff like that."

"Oh..." Diana wished she saw the small red flags starting to turn up. "Okay."

"Oh I almost forgot!" He turned slightly and pulled out a small box with a grin, "I was going to give it to you after your first..." he trailed off before quickly changing the subject, "But I think now is the right time."

He opened the black box revealing a small silver music note resting over a thin matching chain. Diana couldn't help but gasp as he placed it around her neck, allowing it to sit right on her collarbone.

"Dad, it's beautiful," she smiled while playing with the surprisingly light pendant.

"Thank god," he chuckled. "After everything had happened I had to get it altered to make sure it would be able to handle your portals."

The teen's dimples started to show for the first time in weeks, "Thank you!" She pulled him into another hug. "I love it!"

"That's what I was going for," he laughed as he squeezed her.

Back in the present as Diana sat in her bed waiting for her alarm to go off she fully looked back at this conversation and started to finally notice the many red flags before her. She wanted to scream at her past self but as always Diana stayed oblivious to them until it was too late.

As she looked at the clock she sighed after not getting an ounce of sleep. Having only a few minutes left until she'd have to properly acknowledge the fact that she was now fifteen years-old.

So, since she had time to kill, she continued to remember that night. Specifically later that night at the final party before she was locked away at the Avengers Compound.

The party Diana liked to refer to as the party where she finally had her eyes opened.

It started off rather normal. The people were gushing over her and her family. They were wind and dined, had their asses kissed and bombarded them with questions.

But after one final sentence Diana felt herself breaking. Rushing inside the washroom, not even bothering to check if anyone was in the adjoining stalls before locking himself inside.

The teen's back hit the stall door as she let out a long overdue sigh. Her scarred hands wove themselves through her scalp as she tried to process all the things people were saying and asking.

It made her sick. Physical sick after a quick release of pasta and salad into the toilet bowl.

She understood her father and cousin wanted her to make friends. But those people outside the washroom didn't like her for the right reasons. Especially when all they talk about was things she wished to forget. Asking questions about things they had no right to even think about.

"Diana?" A familiar voice could suddenly be heard as she knocked on the stall door, "You okay in there?"

The multicoloured eyes of Diana Rogers-Stark shot open as she heard her sickeningly perfect voice of Colette Zimmer. Of course she was here. Of course she had to be here. When wasn't she wherever Diana was?

After wiping her face and discarding any sign of vomit she let out a deep breath and allowed herself to shift into a blank state. Huffing before finally exiting the bathroom stall.

Diana ignored her as she walked towards the mirror and began to fix up her appearance. She guessed she must've been crying since there were a few clumps of mascara running down her cheeks.

"Shit," the teen muttered as she quickly pulled out her bag and began to aggressively search for something to fix her face up.

The comments made must've finally gotten to her.

Then suddenly Diana saw a small white tissue a few inches away. Glancing over she could see Colette giving a look of concern as she held the tissue up a little higher. She looked rather perfect, as per fucking usual, with hair in a prefect tight knit bun. Not a hair out of place. Wearing a strikingly beautiful sleek dark blue dress, topped off with multiple matching sapphires in her hair and around her neck. She truly put Diana's look to shame.

The superheroed teen glanced between her and the paper before rubbing her tears away and took it, "Thanks," she whispered.

"I've got some remover as well if that helps."

"Yeah, actually... that would be much appreciated," Diana sighed as Colette pulled some out of her bag.

It was silent for a few minutes as she helped fixed Dian up. Reapplying her makeup and concealer before Colette went on to fixed herself up as well.

Diana thanked her again and handed her back her makeup. Turning her attention back towards the mirror she stared at herself once more. Seeing her reflection now only showing the perfectly clean mask. Tears now only a memory.

"You okay?" Colette asked, "Did someone do something?"

"I'm fine," Diana snapped back.

But that was the problem, if they were actually saddened tears she probably would've felt better, though they weren't. They were out of anger. Diana was so unbelievably pissed off.

"You want to talk about it?" She asked.

She huffed through my nose, "Not with you."

Colette nodded, understanding the situation, "Okay. I'll let you be then."

The half Asian girl quickly grabbed her things and walked towards the door. Diana wasn't sure why she felt the need to stop her from moving any further, but looking back she assumed it was because she just wanted to rant to someone who wouldn't sell her life story, "Wait."

Colette stopped as Diana gripped the edge of the sink, making the, "I'm not used to normal-er people. So is it normal for someone to call someone something rather insensitive they do not know?"

She hummed as she turned back, leaning against the entrance's door, "That depends. What did this 'normal person' call you?"

Diana couldn't help but repeat the words with a low chuckle, "They kept calling me Rapunzel," The words tasted like vinegar moulding in pickle juice.

She could actually hear Colette's jaw drop, "They called you that to your face? My god those nobodies are as brainless as they are tactless," she scoffed.

Diana turned around completely as she went on, "Who even asked you that? Was it Jema or Bethany? Those bitches never know when to shut the fuck up."

The girl shrugged, "I don't know. It was one of those brunette girls."

With a flawless eye roll Colette stayed planted against the door and shook her head, "So that was one of the Pinter twins... figures."

"They acted like they knew me," Diana huffed. "Like I'm some sort of puppy they could talk down to."

"You shouldn't take it then," her words made her look up. Her expression seemed to be more bored than anything, "Excuse me?"

She shrugged, "If you hate how people treat you then tell them how you feel. You're the second Lady Liberty for Sanctum's Sake."

"Really? I didn't notice," Diana matched her stale tone making her scoff. "Then act like it," Colette deadpanned.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm supposed to just go up to people and say 'don't talk to me like that because I'm Lady fucking Liberty'?" She snarked using jazz hands.

"Yes!" Colette threw her hand to the side, "You've dealt with more terror in a single hour than they have their bloodlines combined. Stick up for yourself."

"Easy for you to say," she gestured towards the perfect heiress. "Everything I do is recorded. I've been in the history books before I was born. And judging by how terrible these last four years have been... I think my name being written down is far from over. I can't ruin my image at fourteen-"

"Exactly. You. Are. Fourteen. Fourteen," she crossed her arms and leaned forward. "You are still a kid, like me. Like everyone. You're gonna and will make mistakes."

"But be nicknamed for life in the process," Diana added.

She gave a side shrug, "Names and labels only hurt if you let them be pinned on your skin. Trust me."

Diana suddenly scoffed in a marking manner, "You have labels?"

She chuckled, "Of course I do. We all do. You need to move past them."

"Easy for you to say."

"What was that?" She mockingly asked the Rogers to speak up.

"I said easy for you to say," Diana repeated herself a little louder. "You are perfect. That's what everyone says."

Her expression dimmed immensely, turning rather low, "Here maybe..."

"I'm sorry?"

Now that confused the hell out of the teen. That was Colette. The Colette Zimmer. Ever since Diana started at the academy she was told in detail about her perfect voice and amazing acting skills. They always spoke about how she would be the one to change the industry one day. They said if Diana wasn't around, Colette would have been the next Morgan Stark-Rogers.

As Diana looked back she believed she was jealous of her. No, scratch that, Diana was jealous of her. Who wouldn't be? She had everything Diana could ever want and never had to worry about the world being forced upon her shoulders.

Diana watched as Colette started to shift uncomfortably. As if those words struck a chord, "I'm not getting into this with you," she squeezed her eyes shut. "I am far from perfect back home." She huffed, "But don't take the name of Rapunzel so seriously. It's not like it's your fault."

The blonde teen scoffed, "No shit it's not my fault. I didn't ask to be cut from the play," or future productions until further notice considering she was now a risk to participate.

Colette's face of shock slowly dwindle down into one Diana hated even more, pity, "You don't know?"

Her hands unclenched themselves, "Don't know what?" Diana slightly feared to ask.

Colette Zimmer's perfect frown became less faux by the millisecond, "Diana... it's not a nickname. They don't call you Rapunzel because of that Musical you missed. It's... an insult."

"What?"

Her frown stayed low as she spoke, "It's..." she seemed to pause herself for both of their benefits. "It's what they call you behind your back. They've been calling you Rapunzel since they built Avengers tower."

Her eyes widened as Colette pulled out her phone, "Have you not seen the hashtags?"

She handed her phone to Diana and proceeded to show off millions of photos of memes of the girl sitting on her spot on the edge of the tower. Or longingly looking out the window. All under the exact same hashtag, Rapunzel.

As she scrolled down, Diana was met with a shockingly large amount of good quality photos. Some seemed to look as if they had been right next to her when they were taken. She wasn't even mentioning how they all ranged from when Diana was ten all the way to that morning.

"They have YouTube channels dedicated to Lady Liberty sightings on the tower balcony. The media usually pays big bucks to the ones who can get pics of you with a fellow avenger from your spot," she explained. "I thought you knew this?"

She shook my head, "So they call me Rapunzel because I'm always in the tower?" Diana's lips went into a fine line. "Wow."

Colette cringed once more when the blonde handed her back her phone, "Not exactly..."

Diana's face twisted and she silently asked her for an answer. The black haired girl sighed as she put her phone away, "They call you that because you never are allowed to... leave the tower."

Her mouth detached from its hinges, "Are you for real? What- what do people think I'm a prisoner or something?"

She slowly shrugged, "Kinda...?"

"I am not a prisoner!" she quickly told the perfect girl.

"Aren't you?" She crossed her arms once more.

Diana copied her, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"What do you think it means?"

"I'm free, Colette," she told her.

"Are you sure about that?" Colette asked again, "Is that why you never are without an escort?"

Then the avenger's eyes widened even more, "That is not true."

She chuckled, "Diana think about it. When have you ever been alone? Like ever alone? No guards, no parents and no bad guys."

Her face scrunched as she tried her hardest to say something, anything. Though all were none and void. Oh course the first many years didn't count, considering where she was being frozen and unfrozen from time to time. And you could forget about the next when she was with Tony. He was so overprotective, just like her father. When she lived at the tower, security increased. Of course it was for her safety, but looking back was a bodyguard at my music lessons and practise necessary?

That's when it hit her.

Colette was right.

Diana have never been alone before. Ever.

Her lips parted as she took the information in. Diana would be fifteen in a few months. Fifteen years of her life under constant supervision.

"You say you're 'free' but have you ever left the tower without your dad before?" She asked the girl.

"I... I-" though before Diana could answer the washroom door burst open.

"Diana? Oh thank god!" Nastaha sighed as she ran over. "We were worried sick."

Diana looked between her and her rival with a confused expression, "What?"

She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and huffed, "You've been missing for half an hour. Your dad wanted to leave and Tony's had a few too many to drink."

"Oh..." Diana pressed her lips together and felt her sister start to guide her toward the door.

"I'll see you later, Diana," Colette called out to the teen with a voice of pity.

"Yeah... I'll see you around Colette," she responded in the same tone as she was led back to the party where her father was eagerly awaiting.

He pulled his child into a quick hug before telling Diana not to run off again and began to ramble about how tired they were.

But she drowned the words out as she replayed the conversation with Colette in her over and over again. There was no way she was actually right, right? There was no way Diana was a captive again.

She wasn't a prisoner in her own home, was she?

But as she finally got to my new home she couldn't help but notice just how prominent the ten feet barbed wire fence was as it wrapped around the entire complex. Or how the only place that wasn't covered was the large chunk of the ocean leading to a place she couldn't go. 

That's when Diana started to feel something strange in her stomach. She wasn't sure what it was but she didn't like it. She didn't like the open field covering the entrance, or how so much wooded area stretched past the fencing. How many people were here training, or even the large schedule that now hung on her wall detailing her day. It didn't feel right.

Diana didn't think she was free anymore.

And as the clock finally struck eight in the morning, her alarm went off. Within seconds an army of Avengers burst into her room. She wasn't sure if you could even call it that as it wasn't a door but a sheet, but it wasn't important. Instead she slowly sat up as the group crowded around her.

Steve held up a plate of chocolate chip waffles with a tower of whipped cream and candles for her to see. As Natasha and Sam blew horns and spun noise makers. Wanda a few sparkling illusions appear in the air. While Vision stayed a little further back clapping as they started to sing.

Though all Diana could think in that moment was, how much longer till she could get the fuck out of this prison.

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