The Red Room

𝕋𝕎𝔼ℕ𝕋𝕐-𝔽𝕆𝕌ℝ

The tension was still miles high when we got back to the house. Everyone was sitting silently while Clint glared at everyone.

"Finally! You're back. Let's go." He told Morgan as soon as we stepped in the door.

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Barton, I can't go with you. I wish I could make you understand that my mother would be okay with you leaving without me." Morgan said calmly.

"You're absolutely sure this is what she'd want for you?" Clint asked.

"Yes, I'm one-hundred percent sure." He nodded.

"Okay." Clint looked around taking a breath, his compunction visible on his face. "I guess I'll be off then."

He headed for the door. "Wait." I stopped him.

He turned around with one eyebrow raised. "Yes?" His tone was somewhere between pained and annoyed.

I looked around at my fellow fugitives. "Is there someway we can contact you? Just in case we need your help. I think Morgan's mother would like to be sure there's someone he can call for help if he needs it." I wasn't ready to tell them my whole plan yet. I didn't know if they would agree, but I knew Clint could be useful.

"Sure, why not?" He still sounded very put out. He pulled a card out of his back pocket and handed it to me before walking out the door.

The card had his phone number on it along with a bunch of other information about him.

"Hawkeye has a business card?" Morgan asked chuckling as he inspected it over my shoulder. "I really don't think we'll need to contact him, we've got plenty of protection."

"I know, but it might be useful to have an Avenger we can call, just in case." I smiled at the card.

"Cut the crap." Killer said coldly. "Why did you really get his contact information?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Like I said, in case we need his help."

"I can tell when people are lying." She crossed her arms. "So don't bother."

"I'm not lying." I shot back.

"No, you're not, but you're not telling the whole truth either. What are you hiding?" She took a step forward.

"Why is everything I say the beginning of a fight to you?" I stepped towards her. "I'm not trying to fight with you. I really don't want to cause trouble, but you're making it awfully hard."

"I'm sorry, did I frustrate you?" She asked with a mocking pity lip. "I let you stay in my house with my family and you're telling me I don't treat you like I should? The world doesn't revolve around you. You're lucky I'm even letting you live, let alone stay here after today. I suppose no one told you not to get on my bad side? Is that the problem?" She yelled.

My face felt hot with anger and embarrassment. "I've been on your bad side since I got here. I didn't do anything to you and you already hated me! What do you want me to do?" I yelled back.

"I want you to leave and never come back! I want you to go someplace else and never mess with my family ever again! You've caused enough problems and you've only been here a few days!"

"Problems? What problems?! I've done nothing but try to be helpful!" I balled my fists and so did she.

"First, you just waltz into my home and announce that you're part of the family without knowing if we had enough space or resources for you and I'm just supposed to accept it. Then, you lead the Red Room right to us so now they know we're here. Even after that you woke everyone up in the middle of the night because your screaming like an idiot for some reason. And last you can't even play nice! You relentlessly fight over everything I say. I am in charge here. If I ask you a question, you answer it. If I tell you to do something, you do it." Her voice was harsher and angrier than I had ever heard it.

I looked behind her and saw Dusty had pulled Peep's head against his leg and cupped his hand over his ear so he wouldn't hear. I doubted it was working. Tara had grabbed Busters arm and looked like she could cry. Buster was trying his best to comfort her. Marlee stood behind Dusty looking scared, but not for herself; for me.

I felt Morgan's hand slip into mine but my eyes stayed on Killer's. "Fine, have it your way." I broke my glare to look at Morgan. "I don't think we can stay here any longer." My heart broke at my own words. I would miss Tara and the rest of them. I loved her positivity despite what she had been through. I loved Busters humor and Dusty's rationality. I loved Marlee's knowledge and Peep's understanding of the world. I loved the way they loved each other and that they were an inseparable family. I hoped to be a part of it, but I could see I was going to cause more harm than good. I only knew them for a few days, but I cared for them, and if I was causing them any harm I knew I had to leave.

Morgan nodded and I could see this was hurt him as well. I took a deep breath and we started towards the door.

"Wait!" Tara's voice. She tried to come to me, but Buster noticed Killer's head snapping towards her and pulled her back. "Buster, let go!" Tara said angrily as a tear rolled down her face. Killer's glare grew more intense at her and she finally noticed it. She gulped and stopped struggling.

I ignored Killer and walked over to hug Tara. Buster let go of her as I pulled her into my arms. "I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Please don't go." She whispered back.

"I have to, I'm sorry." She buried her face in my shoulder and I knew this wasn't goodbye forever. It couldn't be. "We'll meet again, I promise." I told her.

She pulled away and nodded, sniffling. I smiled humorously and she smiled back through her tears. I breathed in the wooden smell of the old broken down house before I turned away from my oldest friend and took the hand of my big shot.

I nodded to him and we walked out of the house together having no idea what we would face in the next chapter of our unpredictable lives.

Hey! So sorry for the wait! I've been unmotivated again. (Ugh, I know). Thanks for reading anyways! Keep being amazing!