↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

"So... what's this song called again?" Diana asked as her foot tapped along to the beat.

"Highway to Hell," Nathan explained as she continued to read the map. "I still don't know how you don't know these songs. I mean, wasn't Mr. Stark big on stuff like this?"

She shrugged as the sounds of their friends' snoring behind the pair filled the void. The drive through North Carolina had been rather long and a little more dangerous than they originally anticipated. The state lines had become much more crowded with officers looking for verification and resulted in a few close calls.

Diana's own tendons shook while trying to keep the map steady within her hands. She had to use a few Pockets that afternoon to help the group get past security unnoticed, resulting in another upgrade. Now Diana Rogers-Stark can make others, like her friends, travel fifty feet ahead while she could only travel a good six now. Progress is still progress?

So, with only thirty-seven percent left, they decided it would be best to drive a little longer and find a motel on the outskirts of the state to avoid anymore trouble.

"It's been a bit since I've seen him, I usually listen to pop or show tunes in the facility though," Diana explained. "I used to listen to some AC/DC with my cousin, but that was a looooong time ago."

He nodded, "That must've been fun though?"

"It was," she agreed. "He actually didn't want me at first."

"Seriously?" Nathan found himself blanching, as it was well known throughout the world how much Tony adored his cousin. It was in the history books for Morgan Stark's sake.

"Yeah," Diana shrugged. "He didn't think it was actually me. Took like five DNA tests with lawyers and stuff to prove I was real. Still didn't want anything to do with me though."

"What changed?"

"He did. I don't know how... he doesn't like talking about his imprisonment, but the moment he made it home he had two things on his mind," she smiled. "Making a world my mom would be proud of, and for me to be with him. Though I gave him a hard time at first. It wasn't like I had much trust in anyone."

"Really?"

She shrugged, "I'm old. Like actually very old but I don't look it or act it, Nate."

"Do you remember much? Like from the lab?"

"Not really... I mean I remember a place called The Garden and a girl a little older than me, but that could've been decades ago for all I know. It's mostly just blank," she shrugged.

"But then you went to the Starks."

Diana nodded, "I didn't know there was life, if that makes sense. The Garden made it sound like the world outside with nothing but insolent weak beings in need of protection, but when I went out there... I didn't want to leave," she started to smiled. "It's actually weird to think how different I used to be. After the Garden but before Sakovia."

He chuckled, "Well most people are different from their ten-year-old selves. I think mine would probably have a heart attack to know what I'm doing right now. Driving a stolen jeep as a wanted criminal with an even bigger criminal next to me."

She laughed, "I can beat that. My ten-year-old self wanted to be the next Lady Liberty," Nathan let out a loud cringe. "Exactly. Exactly. Little Diana would simply pass away at what she had become."

"Well, I think she'd be pretty proud of herself, considering the multiple times you saved the world," Nathan snickered.

Diana gave a dramatic bow and snickered along with him, "Yeah but most weren't by choice and judging from how the last five years have been, I'm pretty sure it's far from over."

"And you're not... excited about that?"

"Saving the world?" Diana shrugged. "After you've done it once it loses it's excitement."

"Really?"

Diana cringed, "It's... a little more complicated than what people think. I mean? I get that I have a duty, you know? I have the ability to help people so I have to."

Nathan seemed to understand, "You ever think you could retire? Like Mr. Stark or Mr. Barton? I mean you have done a lot already, I don't think people will be upset if you decided to throw in the towel."

"That's the thing, I don't fully want too," Diana ran her hand through her faded amber hair. "I mean a break would be a godsend but... I don't know how to properly explain it. I mean I understand why I have to help, it's just I want it to be on my terms, you know?"

"Like a young avenger?" He suggested.

She snapped her fingers, "Exactly! That's the word, Young Avenger. I can help the world if it's absolutely necessary but still have time to do things like plays or maybe even go to school. Get a break from the constant toll this job does on my body. On all of our bodies actually."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah, we get hurt, and I mean we get hurt."

His brown brows raised a few feet, "Seriously? But... but I thought you guys were all like invincible?"

Diana cackled, "Now that's the farthest from the truth."

"Really?"

"Yep!" She nodded, "Tony has broken sooo many bones, Natasha's had a few surgeries for excessive internal bleeding, Clint has lost most of his hearing, my Dad's been comatose once or twice, Sam had his fair share in bullet wounds, Wanda had her stomach pumped due to ingesting some toxins on a mission and I have had my fair share of hospitalizations."

"Wow," he lightly gasped. "You don't see that in any of the articles."

"That's because we keep it under wraps. I don't know what's scarier, Wanda when they killed her favourite character in a show or our PR team," she chuckled thinking back to that night.

When Wanda first moved in, Diana wanted to try and cheer her up, so she went to see her. Finding the girl watching a show called The Walking Dead on her small flatscreen. So, the teenager dragged her towards their massive home theatre located in the game room and proceeded to watch it together on a larger screen.

It had become the only "normal" thing Diana seemed to do. The pair would pop some popcorn and relax in their fuzzy blankets, watching hot men kill zombies.

Or at least that was until a character named Beth was shot in the face, resulting in Wanda using her powers to throw her chair into the screen.

"Damn."

"They don't want us to come off as weak. If people knew our struggles they would use them against us. Kinda like how they did now..." Diana trailed off as she played with her music note charm.

Nathan only nodded as he brought his attention back to the empty road. Listening as Diana directed him to turn left at the stoplight. Another song came and went as he breathed out heavily through his nose, "Um... can I ask you a question about your dad? I mean, if it's okay...?"

Diana didn't even look up from the map. Giving a hummed agreement. It was pretty common for kids at the parties and social gatherings she was forced to attend to bombard the teen with questions about her famous parents, "When did you start calling Mr. Rogers, your dad?" but that was not a question she had never gotten before.

It made her pause. Her expression rather confused when she looked back at the boy in the hat, "Huh?"

He quickly blushed as tried to back track, "Uh it-it's cool if you don't feel comfortable talking about it's just... well I kinda wanted a person in a similar situation's perspective."

Diana fixed her posture to give him her full attention, "No, no, it's okay. I just... usually when people ask about my dad it's usually questions like, 'What's he like?' or 'How heavy is the shield?' so this is kinda new to me, but can you elaborate more...?"

Nathan cringed. His grip tightened around the steering wheel, "So... as you know my dad is marrying Harley's mom, and... I just don't know how I feel about it," he pressed his lips together.

"Is... is she mean like in the fairytales?"

"No! No, she- she's actually really nice," Nathan corrected himself.

"Then what's the problem?"

The boy huffed, "That's the thing. There is no problem. She's great. She's sweet, a great mom to Harley and Brook, treats me and Katie like her own and I have never seen my dad this happy before, but..."

His friend slowly leaned closer, "But you don't see her as a mother, right?"

"Yeah," he let out a low breath. "It's been a while since my mom passed but it still feels like she was here yesterday. I feel kinda guilty. Christy is so kind yet I feel like I'm disappointing her that I can't see her as a mom."

"Things like that need time," Diana explained. "You're not gonna develop these familiar bonds over night. I didn't at least."

He sighed, "Thanks for telling me that. I just wanted to get some insight from another person in a similar situation."

"I get it. It can be hard."

He paused for a moment, "...was it? For you and your dad?"

Her hands played with her pendant, "Yeah? At first they were. I was ecstatic to meet him, but I had all these expectations and all these ideas of who he would be going in. But he wasn't like that at all."

"Hard transition?"

Diana shrugged, "It took a while. Back when I was younger, I had no control over my strength, breaking so many doors. So, I just assumed he'd only want to help before going off and exploring the world, considering Tony had custody of me. But he took me in," she smiled back thinking about all her and her father had been through. "He was... god he was so cool. But even though he was taking care of me it took a couple years for me to call him my dad. It takes time."

"Yeah... it's just a lot right now," Nathan muttered. "One day I have a family in Brooklyn and then I blink and I have a new family in some random ass town."

"Well..." Diana fiddled with the chain around her neck, "For what it's worth you still have your dad and sister. If I've learned one thing from my constant moving around home isn't a place, but it's the people you're with, and if you ask me, it seems like your home is pretty good."

He glanced in the back where Harley slept with his mouth wide open, catching him smirking slightly, "I guess you have a point. Thank you, for- err... for listening to me."

"It's no problem," she smiled. "Thank you for driving."

"It's not like I had much of a choice," he playfully rolled his eyes.

"Right. The criminal used her Command to force you to drive me to Washington," she pushed his arm.

He flashed his teeth, "That's what I'm telling the cops if we get caught."

Diana's smile dropped as she slapped his shoulder, making him laugh, "Alright then, hostage. I command you to take a left up ahead. There's a motel and I'm tired as shit."

"Yes, Master," he said in a zombie-like voice, making her slap him again as he laughed.

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

Colette let out a loud sigh as she dropped onto the bed. The crappy, dusty bed creak as she went down, "Man I'm not going to miss this."

"Same," Harley huffed as he set up his makeshift bed out of spare pillows and blankets on the floor. "Hopefully the White House has nicer beds, since I've been sleeping on the floor for almost a month."

"The bathtub is still an option," Nathan suggested from the corner he claimed, making his brother gag. "The murder tub? No, thanks. I need to look good for the president tomorrow, I mean she is single."

Nathan rolled his eyes, "My god."

Diana chuckled, getting herself into her own bed, "Harley, I don't think you have a chance with Madam President."

"And why not?" He crossed his arms, very offended.

"Well for starters you're fifteen, but you also have male genitalia."

The boy's eyes widened significantly as the three snickered, "Besides, it's not like we're actually gonna be staying in the White House, Harles. We're probably gonna be put in a safe house or something, right Di?" Colette turned to Diana.

As did the others, "Yeah, I was curious about that..."

"Yeah, what's the plan after that, Didi? I mean we knew we needed the president's help but how?" Harley asked.

Diana felt herself go silent. Gripping the course sheets as she stared back at them, "Well..." she coughed. "Once we get there and explain the situation they're going to watch the tape and go from there. They'll be able to easily access certain systems and locate where the people who took my family would be. Also considering Hydra was the one to put the bolo on me it'll be easy to find them, and then we can locate my family."

"And us...?" Colette tilted her head.

"Um, they'll probably put you into protective custody. I'll probably have to help so we... most likely will be separated," she sadly admitted.

Their smiles turned quickly, "Separated?"

Diana frowned, nodding, "Yeah."

"Well... when it's all over do you think we'll see each other again?" Harley asked.

Her eyes widened, "You guys... you guys want too?"

"Well, no shit," Nathan chuckled. "You're our friends." He said as a matter of fact, which it was.

Colette smiled and nodded, "Obviously we'll see each other again. I can have my mom fly you two out if need be. We'll even convince our dads to add yours to the Dream Team."

"The what?" Harley raised a brow.

"It's this dumb thing our dads made. Steve had one back in the day apparently. Him, Bucky Barnes, Morgan Stark, Peggy Carter and Howard Stark," she listed. "And made another with Sam Wilson, Nastaha and my dad. Your dad could be the final member! It mostly involves going out for dinners or doing touristy stuff," Colette chuckled. "Come to think of it... we're kinda like the dream team."

Nathan crossed his arms, "We are?"

She nodded, "Totally! I'm obviously the Bucky of the group. Harley would be Howard, Diana is Steve-"

"Nathan is Morgan," Harley interjected.

He blushed, "Excuse me?!"

"Well you have the lovely voice, Songbird," Harley flashed his teeth.

"Wouldn't I be Peggy if anything?"

"You can't be."

"Why not?" Nathan glared at Colette.

She crossed her arms, "Because my cousin Harry is Peggy. Staying back at base and handling the situation while we are on the front lines. Duh."

Harley laughed as he got himself comfortable, "I can't wait for this to be over. We're gonna enjoy that."

"Yeah! We'll be like those basic tourists you see on tv. Hawaiian shirts and all. Right, Di?" Colette looked over to her friend.

Diana kept a smile on for appearances, even though she was screaming internally. After she learned what was recorded inside her necklace, she thought more of how her family or rather her father would react to the entire situation. Steve was already overprotective enough but after this? Diana knew he would become just unbearable.

Security be upped even higher, who knows how many guards. The weapons closet would have even more locks and codes. Diana knew they would never allow her outside without at least three guards present after this. Going to school was now nothing but a dream.

And for her friends? As much as it pained the teen, she didn't see them being welcomed into her future rapunzel lifestyles.

And as much as it hurt, as much as Diana knew this would be the last night she would probably ever see them, she decided to act as if nothing was wrong. Act hopeful and kept a smile on her face as she did the one thing she hated more than anything, "Yeah. We're gonna have fun when things get back to normal," she lied to them.

They smiled oblivious before Diana's watch started to go off. Glancing down she huffed seeing the low reading of twenty percent due to her usage on the front desk clerk to get them the room.

"Welp! Looks like it's time to turn in," Harley's head hit the pillow. "Goodnight guys."

Nathan smiled as he moved his hat down, "Night everyone."

"Sleep well," Colette hummed as she snuggled into the sheets.

Diana paused for a moment as she turned out the light, saying for the last time, "Good night guys. See you all in the morning."

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

Around six am, when the sun was just about to breach, Diana tossed in her uncomfortable bed. Groaning, the young girl felt her eyes flutter as she tried to fall back asleep, only for a shiny glint to catch the teen's eye.

Still half asleep Diana side-eyed the culprate, expecting it to be Harley but Harley didn't have a salt and pepper beard, or a bat covered in wire, "Sorry to wake you, Libby. Go back to sleep," he whispered.

Diana Rogers-Stark's eyes shot open as the Paragon looked down at her. Now screaming as loud as she possibly could. Causing a bubble to become caught in her throat keeping it from full power, but it awoke the others as the bat came down.

She pocketed a few feet away making it to the door as the others quickly got up. They tried to open the door but it was jammed. The Paragon took another swing at the four and just barely missed Colette. Making Diana do what she did best, kicking the door down so they could runaway.

"Go! Go! Go!" They all screamed as they tried to escape, only to run into more armed guards, all wearing eye protection. Shit.

Nathan grabbed Diana's hand and started pulling them along, "This way! Quick!"

Taking not even two steps her legs gave out. Diana's battery alarm going off, "Damit!" She hit the floor as her readings were at only nineteen.

That stupid portal cost her more than she thought, "I got her! I got her! Let's go!" Nathan and Harley each grabbed an arm and threw it over their shoulders as they started to book it for the jeep... only for it to be completely destroyed.

They froze momentarily as Colette pointed off in the distance, "It's valet parking. We can get another car!"

The runaways ran in that direction before they were met with more agents. They backtracked and went another direction where they barley avoided another squad. Soon Hydra cornered every exit as they continued to try and find an escape.

"W-what should we do?!" Harley yelled as Nathan pointed to a room in the distance, "There! Go! Go!"

The group of four rushed towards the room and locked ourselves in what looked to be a five by five maintenance closet. Nathan and Colette did their best to keep the door closed as Diana struggled to stand on her own.

"What is going on?!"

"How did they find us?!"

"What are we gonna do now?!" They all screamed as Diana used a mop to stay balanced. The three unpowered kids all worked together to keep the door shut as Diana stood there. Hands gripped her necklace, trying desperately to figure out how they found her so easily.

But then like a lock going into place it all clicked together.

↻ II ↺

"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."

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

The elevator doors dinged before opened making the team turn to see Natasha, followed by Vision and Wanda enter the room, "Any sign of her?" Steve quickly stood up.

She shook her head, "She's somewhere around here. Your tracker says so," Wanda sighed.

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

He started to become a little heated, "I'm just trying to protect you. Why do you think I'm doing all of this? I'm trying to keep you from being taken again. Why do you think I denied the offer for you to go to school?"

↻ II ↺

Diana's lips parted as she realized exactly how they were able to find her. Every single time. Steve Rogers had placed a tracker inside her necklace.

How the hell did she not think of that?! She thought to herself. That's how they knew she was coming back to the tower, how she was at Colette's aunt's home, how she was in the barn. They were tracking her necklace.

How could she be so stupid?

Looking back at the others, Diana watched the door sag. Her pounding heart creating a harmony with the banging on the other side. They had to physically hold it shut so the others couldn't get inside. She quickly went to help as the four kids did our best to keep the door shut.

As Diana helped she couldn't help but feel something wet. Sticky. Glancing down at her side she could see something that cause bile to come up her throat, "Oh my god, Colette. Your arm!"

Colette Zimmer's arm had a massive jagged slash from the Paragon's bat. Elbow to shoulder. Blood gushing out. The girl looked down at it before back up at her friend, "What's the plan?" Colette quickly asked, not caring about her injury.

"Can we even make one?" Nathan yelped as the door shook.

"We have to make another portal!" Harley said.

"She has no battery! She'll pass out before she gets herself, let alone us out!"

As the three continued to argue on a plan Diana couldn't help but look the three over as her mind started to go to darker places. Colette definitely needed stitches. Nathan was exhausted. Harley was on the verge of tears.

If Diana had learned anything about this job as a hero, it was that it will always takes a toll on your body.

That's when Diana Rogers-Stark realized something. This was on her. This was hurt fault. The three kids inside the room trying to protect her were only here because of her.

The thought alone of what Hydra would do to them just to get to her made Diana want to kill herself. This was the reason why she hate kids who want to be an Avenger. You get caught up in drama and end up hurting yourself or even die. Diana didn't want them to get hurt, but that was the problem. They already were hurt.

Hurt because of her.

Dina couldn't let this continue. She was the reason all three of them are here and she can't let them die because of her.

That's when she felt something inside her body snap. Opening a pocket and turning to them, "Let's go."

Colette looked at her in fright and confusion, "Do you have enough juice to get us all out of here?"

"No," Nathan shook his head, "She only has seventeen percent at this point... I hate to say it but I think we are going to have to make a sacrifice."

"What?!" Colette and Harley gasped.

Nathan nodded, "I'll stay behind. I can handle them. You three need to leave."

"No," Harley shook his head. "I'm not letting that happen to you. What if something happens? Katie needs you. I'll stay."

"But Brook needs you!" The two boys started to bicker as Diana's plan started to form.

Colette grunted, "Both of you stop it. Just stop it. Your sisters need both of you. I have to stay."

"Nope!"

"Not happening!" They fought her on it.

She shook her head, "Diana. Diana please let it be me," she grabbed the girl's hand as they kept the door closed.

Diana looked at her confused as Colette sent her a look she knew all too well, determination, "My mission was to protect you. To keep the daughter of the Tesseract safe. Please. Please let me complete my mission."

Diana's mismatched eyes widened as she smiled, "I sighed up for this. Come on. Let your understudy do her job."

The hero's eyes start to water as she gave a light nod, "Okay."

Both boys tried to protest but Diana focused on making an even bigger pocket for them to travel in. Taking the flash drive off Diana handed it to Harley before making sure her tracker was strongly latched onto her person still.

Harley and Nathan hugged Colette tightly before giving Diana a nod, going through the pocket. Diana sniffled as she turned back to a smiling Colette Zimmer.

She looked proud of her decision as Diana was the one struggling not to cry, "The Ancient One says you may have to lose a few battles to win the war."

Diana nodded, "Exactly," she moved closer and held her tightly. Causing the Rogers' shirt to become covered in blood. "Think of it like this... while your school is fighting some dragon, you'll be saving the world."

Colette lightly chuckled, "Yeah... well it is my reason to fight after all."

"Yeah. I know," Diana smile wavered as she actually wondered if this was the right choice.

But after a quick bang on the door Diana knew just how this was the only choice. The right choice. She had never been so right before in her life, "Which is why I'm glad I finally found mine," Diana give her one last hug and quickly pulled away, "Thanks for being my reason."

It's time Diana did things on her own terms.

Colette's smile dropped to confusion as she saw Diana's happy tears making small pockets formed around the pair, "What do you-" Colette let out a scream as Diana pushed her through the portal, making her disappear.

The blood she obtained from that gasp would be the least of her concerns compared to what Hydra would've done to her. Diana knew that. She'd seen it. Colette had no value to them meaning they would've most likely killed her moments after Diana left if she stayed behind instead. No matter what she would've died and that would've been on her. Not happening.

Diana then hit the floor as all the pockets fizzled out. The door kept on banging as the handle jiggled even more.

Even though Diana's doom was now inevitable, a smile still found a way to become plastered on her face.

Not an ounce of regret coursed through her veins as she forced herself to stand. A chuckle escaped her lips as the door broke open. Then, with so little energy down in the five percent Diana gave it her all.

And even as the black spots took over her vison she kept on fighting.

And finally as the bat hit the teen's stomach, sending her to the ground, Diana went out with a calm sigh. Even though she lost the battle, the plans were still on the way to their main destination. Her friends were safe and her watch, proving she was with them at one point, was tucked away in Colette's pocket.

Steve was right, once you find your reason you'll want to fight, and if it meant protecting her friends Diana would do it over and over again.

•••