THE SILENCE WAS AS COMFORTABLE as it was uncomfortable: that was one thing Nadenka could clearly feel. It was calm—because for the first time in a while, they didn't have an immediate problem— but, at the same time, it was tense— because they were looking for a fight that they would soon get.
Her blonde hair fell on her shoulders, and her blue eyes scanned Natasha's hand as she changed the bandage over her almost open stomach. There was a stunning purple glow forming within her skin, and the color had spread to her belly button. But still, Nadenka sat down straight, her black Nike sport bra and her tight black pants covering her body.
"You're awfully quiet." Steve said from the chair in front of her, his blue eyes scanning the young woman and knowing perfectly what was going through her mind. Nadenka let out a sigh at this, looking up at the man and Ezekyel next to him, then looking at Pietro who was having a conversation with his sister.
"I bet you already know why." She chuckled. "Ask away, uncle Steve." The man smiled slightly and nodded, standing up and sitting next to her.
"You're nervous, stressed, shocked, perhaps." He began, the two locking eyes. "They're not gonna be scared of you because of the brands on your shoulders, you know?" Steve spoke softly, the two HYDRA symbols aching slightly as he brought them up.
Nadenka looked at the one on her left shoulder and shook her head.
"What if they think I'm a monster?"
"I think they've spent too much time thinking that about themselves." He admitted, Nadenka closing her eyes as she felt a bit of pain on her wound. "Besides. They know you."
Nadenka couldn't help but chuckle at this.
Her parents knew her. They did know her. She'd talk to them about her day, about what she learned with her powers, about her family and the bad experiences that came with being a runaway.
But she was a purple silhouette in their minds. She couldn't see them, they couldn't see her. She couldn't hug them, she couldn't tell them by their ear how much she loved them and how much she hoped that they had been selfish for once; that they had risked her mental stability but be with her.
But she knew it was selfish of her to think that way. Because it would've had consequences, and her parents knew that well.
"They don't know what they made me do. They don't even know I trained there." She whispered, Steve sighing and placing an arm around her shoulders: like he always did when she was scared and had a nightmare.
Instinctively, she placed her head on his shoulder, Natasha smiling up at them and kissing her forehead before going to Ezekyel and holding his hand, starting a conversation.
"They'll understand. They're smart. You know that, Nad." Steve reassured, his blue eyes honest and soft as he looked at the girl he raised. "Besides, if there's two people in the world that would love you no matter what, those are Bucky and Allura." Nadenka smiled at this, excitement running through her veins as she looked at the window and saw the familiar grass and structures.
"Thanks, uncle Steve." She whispered, the man placing his temple on top of of her head. Steve then stood up from next to her and approached Sam, who was piloting.
"Drop to 2600, heading 0-3-0." He instructed, Sam complying but not before retorting.
"I hope you're right about this. Or we're gonna land a lot faster than you want to."
They were finally there.
They were finally in Wakanda.
The ship suddenly came to a stop, and Nadenka took a deep breath. Meanwhile, Pietro headed to Nadenka, smiling at her and grabbing her arm to help her walk.
"You shouldn't worry yourself too much about me. I'm fine." Nadenka teased, Pietro rolling his eyes but sending her a smirk.
"If I don't worry about you, who will keep you from getting into trouble, draga mea?" He asked her, making sure he was supporting her enough so that she wouldn't feel any pain.
"You certainly won't." She told him playfully, the boy laughing and shaking his head.
"Oi." He mumbled, observing the castle as the doors opened. "Feels like it was yesterday when we were last here."
"It was three months ago." Nadenka told him with a raised eyebrow, the boy shrugging.
"Still. Too soon." He held her close to him, telling himself that it was just because she couldn't walk, it was just because he needed him because of her wound...
... But he knew it was the bad feeling in his gut that made him hold her close. And he was terrified.
"If I hit you, will you calm down?"
"Always so aggressive, Nad." He chuckled. "But no. You hitting me won't make me calm down. On the contrary, I might have to fight you back. And with you wounded like this, I might actually win this time."
"I can take you even with this injury, Pietro." The boy smirked, sending her a wink and letting go of her arms for a second.
"You can take me anytime, prinţesă." Nadenka laughed loudly, turning slightly so that he wouldn't notice her blushing cheeks— which, unfortunately, he did, and it only made him laugh harder.
When his laughter died down, Nadenka began overthinking again.
She could feel butterflies in her stomach— an entire damn zoo,— and her hands begin to sweat. Her feet were walking on their own accord and a million situations of what could happen began thundering around her head.
What if they thought she was a monster?
What if they preferred just seeing her as a purple silhouette?
What if she wasn't talented or smart enough?
What if they didn't love her?
Nadenka took the deepest breath she's ever taken and focused her strength on moving. Her blue eyes seemed calm to the ordinary sight, but if her frændi Ezekyel looked at her, she knew he'd be able to catch every single thought running through her mind.
So, she focused ahead, avoiding eye contact and pushing her body just a little closer to Pietro— knowing he was her anchor during her worst fears.
"Should we bow?" Nadenka heard Bruce ask, the girl looking at him and almost laughing at the reply James Rhodes gave him.
"Yeah, he's a king."
No. Don't bow. Nadenka thought to herself, a small part of her wishing to tell him but the other and the one she went with allowing Rhodes to make his joke.
Nadenka found T'Challa leading his soldiers, standing firm and elegantly as he welcomed the heroes, the damaged and the wronged. He wore a neutral expression, but she could spot the pride in his gaze from being chosen to help in such an important and majestic cause.
"Seems like I'm always thanking you for something." Steve spoke, Nadenka scoffing quietly.
"You're telling me about it." She mumbled, Pietro grinning slightly.
As Steve shook T'Challa's hand, Bruce bowed, and Rhodes coughed uncomfortably and looked at thin.
"What are you doing?" T'Challa asked and shook his hand dismissively. "We don't do that here." Bruce glared at Rhodes and T'Challa looked at Nadenka, a small smile forming on his lips.
After all, it hadn't been just HYDRA to train the young warrior.
Okoye sent the blonde a nod, making Nadenka straighten slightly at the sight of her teacher as she nodded back with a soft smile on her pink lips. She then looked at T'Challa and they shook hands, him doing the same with Pietro.
"So, how big of an assault should we expect?" T'Challa asked, Pietro and Nadenka walking next to Okoye as the woman looked at the injured blonde.
"Where did you fail, Barnes?" She asked the girl, Nadenka sighing and trying to not make it obvious that she was in pain.
"I left my stomach unguarded, as you can see. But I don't think it counts, they had a hold of my arms." She tried to excuse, perfectly aware that she wouldn't get away with it.
"Excuses? You still had your legs."
"Kneeling, couldn't move."
"Could've used your powers."
"You know Uncle Steve and Aunt Nat prefer that I don't." Okoye smiled at the young girl, knowing the she was taking everything she had been taught into account.
"Good." She said, admiring that, even though she was hurt, she had managed to keep up a fight before she was. And knowing Nadenka, who was as stubborn as the good half-Jupiterian she was, did not go down without a fight.
"Sir, sir. I think you should expect quite a big assault." Bruce said, his nerves being heard in his voice. Nadenka and Okoye exchanged a glance, and like the rest of the group, ignored his comment.
"How are we looking?" Natasha asked.
"You will have my Kingsguard, the Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje and-"
"And a semi stable 100 year old man and a former three thousand year old Jupiterian."
And when she heard their voices, was when Nadenka Barnes-Ljós felt the air leave her lungs and her heart beating faster than the speed of light...
... because her parents were finally standing right in front of her.
It's tiiiiiiiime! A reunion is in order and I can't wait!
Allura and James are back, Nat and Ezekyel are together and Nadenka and Pietro are better than ever! I love them too much, to be honest.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Soon, The Barnes-Ljós family will be together as they should.
Stay safe!
- evanescence2016