CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
❝︎Game Of Blame❞︎
RAELYNN WAS EXTREMELY NERVOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. Her hands were sweating and her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest at any given moment. Raelynn woke up the next morning a lot earlier than she'd originally intended. She blamed it on the nerves that were running drastically through every cell of her body. Raelynn took a shower and got ready for the day. She glanced towards the time and sighed as she sat down on her bed. She still had two hours before Beth came to get her. Maybe she should eat something, it would help her nerves.
She opened the fridge, pursing her lips as she stared at the very empty fridge. She closed the door and reminded herself that she would have to get food for her room later on. She made her way out of her room and traveled to the cafeteria. She grabbed herself some food and sat by herself at one of the tables that was far in the corner and away from everyone else. She could feel the looks, she could feel the glares.
Raelynn knew that some of the agents blamed her for the death of one of their own, she couldn't really blame her because she was the reason for it. Raelynn quietly sat there and ate her food, glancing up when footsteps approached her. Steve Rogers and Liliya Petrova had spotted her from across the room and after getting some food, Liliya urged to Steve to join the girl. Steve had happily agreed. The couple made their way over to her and Liliya offered her a smile.
"This seat taken?" Liliya asked and Raelynn shook her head.
"Raelynn," Steve greeted. Raelynn offered him a small smile.
"You okay?" Liliya asked.
Raelynn glanced towards the agents who were looking at her before looking down at her food. "I'm okay. Just trying to get used to people giving me death glares." She let out a humorless chuckle.
Liliya sat up straighter and Steve closed his eyes. "Honey, please don't."
Liliya ignored him and stood up with a smile. "Hi! Hello! Can I get everyone's attention please?" The cafeteria turned silent and all of the agents turned to look at her.
"What is she doing?" Raelynn whispered, looking at Steve with wide eyes.
Steve tried to hide his smile as he shook his head. "She's being Liliya."
"Yes, hi." Liliya continued. "Anybody else throw a glare, a look of any nasty kind towards Raelynn, I promise you that you will regret it. I am your trainer, let's not forget that, and I will be sure to make your life a living hell. Word from me to Natasha to Fury will get you fired. So, let's not play this game of blame, shall we?" She looked around at the agents before her voice grew stern. "Is that understood?" There were a chorus of 'yes ma'am's' that echoed around the room and the smile returned on Liliya's face. "Good."
Liliya sat back down and Raelynn looked at her like she was insane. "What was that?"
"People around here are such judgmental bastards." Liliya muttered. "Someone was bound to put them in their place eventually, and that someone happened to be me. Plus, it brings me a sense of joy to watch them cower at the very sound of my voice." Liliya hummed in delight and ate a bite of her food.
Raelynn let out a laugh, glancing at Steve. "Is she always like this?"
"Always," Steve nodded, a smile on his lips as he looked at Liliya.
Raelynn glanced between the two. "I seriously have no idea how the two of you ended up together."
"Trust me, I make him question it every day." Liliya told her with an amused smile. "I'm a lot to handle."
Raelynn smiled. "I can see that."
"He loves me too much to let me go."
"Oh please, I'd never let you go."
Raelynn scrunched up her nose. "Never mind, I see it now. You two are disgustingly in love." Steve cracked a smile and whilst Liliya just let out a chuckle of amusement.
"You'll find that someday." Steve promised her.
Raelynn shook her head. "No, no I won't. I don't date. That's not my thing."
"You're not interested in anyone?" Liliya asked.
Raelynn pursed her lips and slowly shook her head. "Nope. Like I said, not really my thing."
Steve and Lilya exchanged a look with each other, and Steve just shrugged his shoulders as if he were silently telling Liliya to leave it alone. The woman just sighed and nodded, throwing the topic off the table and instead changing the subject. "So, are you excited to finally see your sister again after so long?"
Raelynn thought about it for a minute, and although she truly was nervous about seeing her sister again, part of her still missed her. She had wanted to hug her sister for so long and the thought of being able to do just that made her heart swell. Yes, she was nervous, extremely nervous at that, but Aurelia was still her sister and she had never once stopped loving her or stopped caring for her. All she ever wanted was the best for the sister, and at the time the best thing for her was to be away from Raelynn. The blonde nodded her head. "I am. I'm nervous, I mean, who wouldn't be? But she's still my sister. I'm just scared how she's going to react to me being away for so long. What if she thinks I've just abandoned her?"
"I'm sure she won't think that." Liliya frowned, shaking her head.
"She knew the circumstances; she knew that you didn't have a say or a choice in the matter. I'd hope she would be understanding." Steve noted, looking at the woman with sincerity.
"She's going to wonder why I've waited this long to find her." Raelynn softly whispered, frowning down at the table.
"Well, if she's at Xavier's school, she's there for a reason." Steve pointed out. "Maybe you're not the only one that needed to learn control over your powers before being introduced to the real world."
Raelynn thought about it for a moment and suddenly she felt a lot better. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
"He's Captain America, he's always right."
Steve rolled his eyes at his girlfriend before looking at Raelynn and shaking his head. "No, I'm not. Just because I have a title does not mean I'm right about everything all the time. In fact, half the time I don't even know what I'm talking about."
"That's what I'm here for." Liliya smiled and Steve just shook his head and smiled back at her.
Bethany Dennings made her way into the cafeteria, her eyes glancing around the room before spotting Raelynn. She made her way quickly over to her. "There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you. Are you ready?"
Raelynn swallowed back her nerves and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Good." Beth breathed before looking at Steve and Liliya, nodding towards them both. "Steve. Liliya."
"Beth," they greeted in unison.
Raelynn stood up and Liliya offered her a reassuring smile. "Good luck."
"Thanks," Raelynn replied before quickly following after Beth.