Inheritance of ash

game night

The sky outside the tower windows was streaked in deep orange and fading lavender. Evening had settled over New York, casting a warm glow across the common room where most of the team had gathered - half eating, half lounging, some pretending to do both. The TV played some mindless cooking show in the background while the smell of garlic and takeout containers lingered in the air.

Vicky wandered in, hoodie sleeves shoved over her knuckles, hair messier than usual, and a look that screamed try me. Her eyes were puffy like she hadn't slept, and more telling than anything else - the silver bracelet that hadn't left her wrist in days was conspicuously missing.

Natasha was the first to notice. She didn't say anything at first, just followed Vicky's movements with narrowed eyes as she beelined to the pizza box on the counter and grabbed a slice without looking at anyone.

"You're missing something," Natasha finally said, taking a slow sip of her drink.

Vicky didn't look up. "I'm aware."

"That wasn't rhetorical."

She rolled her eyes and flopped onto the couch next to Peter, who had a laptop on one knee and a half-eaten bowl of noodles in the other.

"It's in my room," she muttered, tearing into the slice. "Didn't feel like wearing it."

Peter glanced at her, concerned. "Is everything okay?"

"No," she said flatly, then took another bite of garlic bread. "But thanks for asking."

Tony, who was standing by the counter pouring something stronger than juice into his coffee mug, raised an eyebrow. "Bracelet in the room? Sounds ominous. Let me guess: glowing again, headache-causing, mild existential crisis?"

Vicky didn't answer. She just took a bigger bite.

That was answer enough.

Wanda, curled up in the corner chair with her legs tucked beneath her, spoke gently. "Did it hurt you?"

"No," Vicky said quickly - too quickly. "It's just annoying. It's weird. I don't know what it wants from me."

"Maybe it doesn't want anything," Bruce offered from the arm of a chair, looking up from his tablet. "Maybe it's just reacting to you. That happens."

Vicky scoffed. "Great. So I'm the problem."

Sam, sprawled on the floor with a soda in hand, pointed at her with his straw. "Technically, it could be the bracelet. But sure, blame yourself. That's totally emotionally healthy."

"Shut up," she said, not unkindly.

"You're a ray of sunshine today," Clint added, not even looking up from his game of digital chess with himself.

Vicky rolled her eyes, then turned to Peter. "Tell me there's dessert."

Peter held up a plastic-wrapped brownie with a grin. "I stole it before Thor could."

She reached for it immediately. "You're now my favorite Avenger."

"That was quick," Tony muttered from his corner.

"It's the sugar," Wanda added with a smile.

Vicky didn't respond. She unwrapped the brownie and started eating like it was her last meal. Natasha was still watching her though, like a cat eyeing a string that might move.

"You going to tell us why you're actually irritated?" Nat asked casually, but her tone said she already knew it wasn't just teenage angst.

Vicky didn't answer. Not directly. Instead, she shrugged and said, "Maybe I'm just tired of not knowing anything. Maybe I'm tired of not even knowing my parents names, if they were even my real parents. Or maybe I just didn't feel like wearing the creepy alien friendship bracelet today."