Chapter 6

**Tony's POV**

"You. Have. POWERS!" I shouted, my voice echoing with disbelief. I leapt up from my seat, adrenaline coursing through my veins. A palpable air of confusion, anger, and disbelief washed over the others present. One by one, we started to back away, slowly creating distance between ourselves and Bea. Some members instinctively reached for their weapons, while others simply retreated, fear etched on their faces. Only Wanda and Clint remained steadfast, anchored in place, which made me question, why?

Bea raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, crackling electricity sparking ominously from her fingertips. We collectively gasped, a tension tightening my muscles as the energy in the room became electric—figuratively and literally.

"Will everyone just calm down? Put your weapons down!" Clint shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Not a chance," Natasha replied, her tone icy and resolute.

"Nat, put your weapon down," Clint insisted, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice.

"She could be dangerous," Natasha shot back, her eyes narrowing at Bea.

They knew something we didn't.

"She's not. Just put it down!" I added, my voice rising with urgency.

Natasha stepped forward, determination etched on her face. "No, stop!" I shouted, activating my iron arm. The familiar whir of my suit echoed in the tension-filled silence, the rest of my armour clicking into place around me.

"Hey, Bea. Look at me. You are okay. I know you don't feel safe right now, but you are okay," Wanda said gently, her soothing tone attempting to calm the storm brewing within Bea. But fear had gripped her like a vice, and her breath quickened as the very air around us began to tremble.

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded, my heart racing as I sensed the power surging from her.

"It's her! She's doing this!" Natasha barked, raising her gun with renewed intensity.

Koda, sensing the rising threat, began to bark ferociously, positioning himself protectively in front of Wanda and Clint, snarling at the rest of us—a fierce sentinel.

"Hey, Bea, you're good. Just breathe," Wanda and Clint urged, their voices steady.

"You knew?!" I shouted at them, a mixture of frustration and betrayal bubbling within me. They remained focused on Bea, not acknowledging our outbursts.

"Hey, Bea, it's okay. We're not going to hurt you. You just have to stop," Steve shouted, his voice trying to break through the storm of emotions swirling around us.

Our eyes locked across the chaos. I saw true fear reflected in her gaze. She glanced behind me, a flicker of pain replacing fear as we connected once more. But it was a pain so profound that it twisted in my chest. With a flick of her wrist, the glass behind her exploded into a thousand shards, and in an instant, she and Koda vanished.

I dashed to the window, skidding to a halt, my heart pounding as I scanned the grounds frantically. "Where is she?" I thought, panic flooding my mind.

"Look at the tree line," Pietro announced, his voice steady as he pointed. We oriented ourselves in unison, spotting her figure weaving through the trees. Without thinking, we moved as one, Clint leading the charge. As we approached the treeline, the wind howled, muffling our screams and making it difficult to keep our footing over the gnarled roots.

I caught sight of her darting left. "She's going to the quarry dam!" I realised, launching myself into the air behind her. I completed a loop above the area, my heart in my throat. "Friday, scan the area."

"Scan complete. No sign of Bea found," the AI's voice replied, almost too calmly for the chaos of the moment.

"Bea!" A familiar voice called from below.

"Clint?" I replied, circling down to him.

"Bea! Where are you?" he yelled, desperation threading through his voice.

"Clint," I said, landing beside him. "Where is she?"

"I don't know. How am I supposed to know?" he shot back, frustration mingling with his worry.

"You're the one who knew!" I snapped, the urgency of the situation overwhelming me.

"That doesn't matter right now!" he said, turning away.

"Yes, it does! You knew and never told us!" My voice cracked in the silence, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between us like the storm clouds we'd just witnessed. A moment of silence passed, heavy and thick—broken only by the rustling of leaves. "She's not here. Let's go."

"I'm not moving. I'm staying here," he stated firmly, sitting down on a boulder, the resolve in his eyes unyielding.

"Whatever," I muttered, frustration boiling over as I took off toward the base.

Upon my arrival, the scene was chaotic. Everyone was back, all covered in mud and bruises, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and curiosity. "Oh, wow, what happened here?"

"Turns out she can control the weather—and the trees," Natasha replied dryly, pulling a thorny branch from Bucky's back. He yelped in pain as I cringed, an involuntary reaction to his discomfort.

"Ouch," I thought to myself, sympathy flooding my thoughts.

"Where are Wanda and Clint?" I asked, scanning the surroundings for any sign of them.

"Clint's still at the dam, searching. As for Wanda, I have no idea where she is," Natasha replied, frustration evident in her voice.

"She was here just a second ago," Vision added, his expression reflecting concern as he scanned the area.

We were left with nothing but the restless energy of uncertainty, each of us grappling with the mounting dread that lay ahead.

Bea P.O.V

"Bea." A familiar voice calls, soft yet insistent. "Bea, wake up." As I turn over, the sunlight filters through the curtains, forcing my eyes open. I blink and find Wanda towering over me, her warm hand rubbing my arm gently. Instinctively, I raise my hands, and a shimmering crystal leaps from my fingertips, hovering dangerously close to Wanda's face. She catches it just in time, her eyes widening in a mix of surprise and awe. "Jeez, okay, I'm never waking you up again," she quips, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.

"Sorry," I murmur, rubbing my eyes.

"No, I'm sorry," she replies, her gaze dropping to the floor.

I follow her eyes and suddenly notice my hands, battered and bruised, with angry red cuts running across my knuckles. "What happened to your hands?" I ask, a surge of concern washing over me.

"Nothing," she responds quickly, though I can tell it's a lie.

"I shouldn't have mentioned your mother," she adds, genuine remorse lacing her voice.

"No, I should have handled it better," I say, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on us.

"Like this," she says softly as she takes my hands in hers, examining the wounds carefully. I wince at the touch.

"Sorry."

"It's my fault," I reply, my heart heavy as we embrace, lingering in the solace of our friendship.

"Isn't this a cosy little get-together?" a voice suddenly calls out from the shimmering water, startling both of us. Startled, I turn to find Clint wading in the shallows, a sly grin plastered on his face.

"What the hell?" I exclaim in disbelief. "Clint? How did you get in here?"

"I saw you," he says, pointing a finger at Wanda with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I thought I'd follow my favourite spy, and by the way, you didn't put the algae wall back up."

We both sigh, the tension dissipating momentarily.

"Cool place you've got here," he says, spinning in the water as if it were a grand ballroom, his head just above the surface.

"Do you want to come out?" Wanda offers, glancing at him thoughtfully.

"Nah, the water's warm—well, warmer now," he smirks, a devilish sparkle in his blue eyes.

"Ewwww," I groan, scrunching my face in mock disgust.

"Clllliiiinnnnttt!!!!!" we both scream in unison as he splashes us, laughter bubbling up even as we try to avoid the water spraying across our faces.

"I'm only kidding", he says innocently, water droplets flying from his hair. "Alright, we should really be going."

"Wait!" I call, almost instinctively.

"What?" he replies, raised eyebrows indicating my urgency.

"You have to swear not to tell anyone about this place," I insist.

"Really? Okay, fine!" he relents dramatically, crossing his heart with a finger.

Wanda and I share a knowing glance before we all leap into the cool, clear water, swimming through the hidden tunnel that leads to our sanctuary. As I lower the algae wall behind us, we emerge from our secret cave, and I immediately call out a warning. "Watch out! The algae will still be poisonous!"

"How long can the poison last?" Clint asks cautiously as he carefully navigates the rocky terrain.

"Three days," I reply, watching as he cautiously steps out onto dry land.

"Okay," he says, looking slightly nervous. Suddenly, a scream pierces the air. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! PUT ME DOWN! WAAANNNDDDDAAAA!" I whirl around, only to see Clint dangling in the air under a waterfall, Wanda having caught him up in the moment.

"What the hell?!" I exclaim, incredulous.

"He almost slipped on the algae," she says matter-of-factly. "I caught him, and, well, here we are." Laughter bubbles up between us.

"Give him to me," I say, extending my arms. Clint shifts slightly, and as he tumbles through the air, I catch him, the sudden movement sending us both spiralling for a brief moment.

"Can you now let me down, Bea. Bea?" he pleads, eyes wide with mock concern.

I glance towards the lake and back at him. "No, don't you dare." With one knowing look towards Wanda, who gives an enthusiastic nod, I fling Clint into the water, sending him flying toward the base. He screams as he arcs through the air before hitting the surface with a resounding splash.

"Where is he?" Wanda asks, turning to me, and just as the question lingers, Clint resurfaces, sputtering and swimming toward the rocky outcrop in the middle of the lake, visibly shivering as the chill of the water hits him.

With a burst of energy, Wanda gracefully lifts herself out of the water, gliding toward him, while I dive in, grabbing hold of a large log to use as a makeshift surfboard. I paddle over, the buoyancy of the water making it easy to glide through. Using my powers, I let the water currents propel us toward the base.

We inch closer to the beach, but as we near the shore, Clint and Wanda unexpectedly shove me off the log, sending me tumbling into the water. I swim after them, and just as I reach the beach, I summon a large bubble of water and send it cascading over both of them in a playful splash.

We dash around the grassy expanse and through the woods, the laughter and joy echoing amidst the trees until we finally make our way back to the base, the encroaching darkness signalling the end of our day.

When we eventually return, the sun has dipped below the horizon, and the cosy glow of the living room reveals our friends chatting energetically. We silently sneak past, ready to clean up and let the day settle.

As I enter my room, I wave my hand, and all the candles spring to life, casting a warm, flickering light that dances across the walls. I hold my palms up, and with a gesture like a gentle rain shower defying gravity, the mud and remnants of the day's adventures float off my skin and Koda's fur, settling into the flowerpots around the room. I wash away the lingering scents of the outdoors, and with a flick of my fingers, cool air rushes from my palms, quickly drying both my hair and Koda's fur.

Focusing my energy, I press my hands together, feeling the warmth radiate, and I use it to straighten my hair before I change. I slip into my fluffy white snow leopard-print joggers, my llama socks, an army-print sports bra, and the oversized green jumper I wore on my first day here. After feeding Koda and playing with him for a while, a soft knock on my door interrupts us.

When I open it, I am met with a freshly cleaned Wanda, dressed in black joggers, cozy grey slippers, a snug grey t-shirt, and a large white cardigan that looks incredibly inviting.

"May I?" I ask, bowing grandly while holding out my arm as if inviting royalty.

"You may," she replies, laughter spilling from her lips as she accepts my gesture.

Together, arm in arm, we make our way toward the lounge. As we arrive, we find our friends gathered together, sitting in a circle, while Nick Fury stands among them, his commanding presence evident.

"Nick?" I call out, a hint of surprise in my voice as we approach, flanked by Steve, Tony, and Sam, who rise to greet us. The rest of the group turns to acknowledge our arrival, their expressions brightening at the sight of us.