Chapter 11

In the warm, bustling atmosphere of the kitchen, Clint leaned casually against the counter, his eyes flicking between Laura and the window. At the table, Nat, Steve, and Bruce engaged in quiet conversation, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity. Tony lounged by the doorframe, arms crossed, a contemplative look on his face. Meanwhile, Petro, Bucky, and Sam had remained at the base, their reluctance to join the gathering evident. Sam, in particular, cast wary glances at Bucky, still grappling with trust issues.

Peter stood near the window, staring out at the scorched earth beyond, his mind lost in memories of chaos and destruction. Wanda hovered by the door that led outside, her senses heightened. A sudden creak echoed through the hallway, prompting her to vanish into the dim light of the corridor. As she moved past the grand staircase, she stumbled upon Fury and Bea descending, their expressions serious, yet relieved.

"Wanda! Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Bea exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. "We've been so worried. I've been frantic! Why did you leave?"

"I'm fine," Bea reassured her, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I just needed to be with nature. I didn't feel safe enough at the base. It was overwhelming. I needed a break."

Wanda's grip on Bea loosened, and as she regained her composure, the two of them turned to rejoin the others in the kitchen, where the ambience shifted slightly, filled with a mix of relief and lingering concern.

"Bea, you're alright!" Clint said, enveloping her in a warm hug that offered comfort. When they parted, Wanda and Clint returned to their spots, while Bea perched on the countertop next to Laura after sharing a heartfelt embrace with her.

"You scared us so much," Laura said softly, her eyes searching Bea's for signs of lingering distress.

"I'm so sorry," Bea replied, her voice thick with emotion. "I saw Lila, and I'm just so relieved she's safe. I honestly don't understand why she came so close to me."

"She claims it was the crystal you gave her," Laura responded, a hint of amazement in her tone.

"If I had known it would prompt her to come near me like that, I would have never given it to her. I truly apologise."

"It's alright. She's safe, and you're safe too. No one was hurt; that's what matters. Nothing bad has happened this time," Laura reassured her, though her expression became serious at the mention of "again."

"What do you mean by 'again'?" Steve interjected, his brow furrowing with concern as he glanced around the group.

"This has happened before?" Tony asked, his interest piqued.

"The peculiar incident of going up in flames and being covered in that gloop," Peter added, his curiosity palpable.

"Yes, it has," Fury stated firmly, prompting everyone to turn their attention to him. "It occurs every four years. Bea triggered it when she was a child, but nothing truly serious has transpired since."

"Except for my birthday," Bea murmured, almost to herself. Laura promptly squeezed her arm in solidarity.

"It comes every four years, lasting for an entire year," Fury continued, his voice steady.

"How does it happen?" Tony queried, his analytical mind racing.

"That's a bit more complex," Fury replied, shifting his gaze to Bea, who took a deep breath before elaborating.

"I triggered it when I was four. There have been no disastrous outcomes since then, unless you come too close to me."

"But Lila wasn't hurt," Nat retorted, her expression sceptical.

"That's because she was wearing the crystal," Bea clarified.

"One from...?" Wanda prompted, her curiosity evoked.

"Yes," Bea nodded, affirming Wanda's question.

"Where did it come from?" Bruce asked, leaning forward with interest.

"That information isn't relevant," Clint interjected, attempting to quell the growing tension.

"The crystal acted as a shield, preventing her from being burned," Wanda explained, her voice even.

"Burn? What do you mean by burned?" Peter asked, his youthful innocence shining through.

"Peter," Tony said, trying to cut him off.

"What? Yes, Mr Stark, oh, okay," Peter said, realising his timing was off, and the group shared a light chuckle.

"Yes, burn. The entire purpose of my transformation is to cleanse myself of darkness, to become pure again," Bea explained, her voice steady despite the weight of her words.

"Peter, that's your third yawn in the last five minutes. Maybe you should head to bed," Tony suggested, his tone slightly teasing.

"Oh, but—" Peter began to protest.

"Peter," Tony reiterated, more firmly this time.

"Fine. Night, guys," Peter said, making his way to the door as everyone echoed their goodnights.

"The fire... at your house, it was interrupted, wasn't it?" Bruce asked, his expression darkening.

"Yes, I lost both my house and my mother during that event," Bea replied quietly, the truth of her loss hanging heavily in the air.

"Oh damn," Bruce murmured, realising the gravity of the situation.

"So, you are dangerous," Tony stated, a hint of judgment in his tone.

"No," Bea countered quickly. "It was a one-time occurrence, and I've been under the care of SHIELD during the years it happened."

"Why wasn't she held this year?" Wanda inquired, her gaze shifting to Fury with an undeniable hint of accusation.

"They typically manifest on my birthday and for a few months afterwards, but they hadn't shown up this time," Fury explained, a hint of frustration underlying his words.

"So, Nick thought it would be okay to let me stay with you all," Bea continued, her tone evolving. "You have everything you need, but I guess with me erasing the file, you had no idea about any of this. I'm sorry again."

"So, when it's the year you become the flaming gloopy monster...," Tony trailed off, eyes wide in stunned contemplation.

"Yep," Bea affirmed quietly.

"Wow," Bruce whispered, shaking his head in disbelief as the team absorbed the weight of Bea's reality.

"What's it like?" Peter asks, peeking his head through the doorway with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"You are supposed to be asleep," Tony replies, a playful frown creasing his brow as he strides purposefully toward Peter.

"Sorry, I just wanted to hear what was happening," Peter explains, an impish grin spreading across his face as he nimbly dodges Tony's reach. With a quick burst of energy, Tony begins a spirited chase around the plush sofa, their laughter echoing in the room.

"Will you stop chasing me?" Peter calls out, glancing back over his shoulder, exhilaration sparking in his voice.

"Not until you stop running away," Tony retorts, breathless from the effort, as he finally manages to grab a hold of Peter's shirt. With a sudden tug, the fabric gives way, ripping open to reveal Peter's toned torso.

"Well, damn," Bea whispers, her eyes widening in surprise. Laura and Wanda exchange amused glances, unable to suppress their chuckles.

Caught off guard, Peter halts and turns to face Bea, a smirk playing on his lips, clearly enjoying the attention. "I'm not going to say a word; I'll just sit here and listen," he says, plopping down on the couch and fixing his gaze directly on Bea as she begins to discuss her powers. The admiration is apparent on his face, a mix of awe and intrigue.

"What time is it?" Steve mumbles sleepily, his eyelids growing heavy as he fights off fatigue.

"1:34 AM," Clint replies, stifling a yawn. "Alright, everyone, time to hit the hay."

"Yes, Mum," Tony quips back, rolling his eyes in jest.

As we all head toward our respective rooms, Wanda, Nat, and I share a cosy space. Inside, Wanda and Bea claim the bed while Nat opts for the window side, wrapping herself in blankets as if they were a shield against the whispers of the night.

"Bea?" Wanda's voice breaks the comfortable silence.

"Yes, Wanda?" Bea replies, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

"You know Peter has a thing for you, right?" Wanda says with a teasing lilt.

"What?" Bea's eyebrows knit together in disbelief.

"Yeah, it's incredibly obvious," Wanda insists, leaning in closer. "He wouldn't stop talking about you when we were at the base."

"Huh. Well, I don't really know him," Bea states, a slight flush touching her cheeks.

"But you could get to know him," Wanda urges, her mischievous tone unwavering.

"Wanda, stop it. He doesn't like me," Bea insists, although there's a flicker of doubt in her words.

"Okay, maybe he doesn't, but you definitely do," Wanda counters with a smirk.

"Like you and Vision?" Bea retorts, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you mean by that?" Wanda asks, feigning innocence.

"I mean, you and Vision—it's like you two are lovebirds," Bea says, a smirk of her own blossoming.

"No, we aren't!" Wanda protests, but the playful tone in her voice gives her away.

"Uh-huh," Bea says, laughing as Wanda playfully swats her with a pillow.

"Shhh! You're going to wake Nat. She'll be furious with us!" Bea whispers urgently, glancing toward Nat, who suddenly speaks up.

"I'm already awake; I haven't even been asleep." Nat turns over, her expression unimpressed but hinting at amusement. "Goodnight, lovebirds," she adds with a roll of her eyes, clearly growing tired of their teasing.

The next morning dawns bright and crisp as we prepare to return to the base. I say my hurried goodbyes, feeling a mix of excitement and reluctance. It's been a while, and surprisingly, I've managed to stay grounded and keep control, not slipping into that dangerous other dimension.

Once we arrive back home, I can sense the calmness that hangs in the air, a stark contrast to the chaos we sometimes find ourselves in. Everyone's been unusually quiet. Koda, my loyal dog, greets me with exuberant joy, tail wagging furiously. Apparently, the team had taken turns to walk him in my absence, bonding with him in their own ways. It's a strange, warm feeling knowing that Koda has captured the hearts of everyone around, now viewed as a cherished companion.

Even though I rescued him and nurtured him back to health, I can't help but feel a pang of guilt about leaving him behind. I try to walk him every day, but most days it seems Sam, Bucky, Steve, or Pietro have already taken him for a run. Koda's speed is impressive; he's been training with me, it seems, picking up my energetic pace along the way.