Red Line

Carry On

6 months later (present day)

"It's Zoya Barton." I repeat to the receptionist at the desk for the third time, keeping my tone as cool as possible.
Could she be any less competent? Honestly, I could do this in my sleep. How hard can it be?
"Oh" she finally says. She taps a few buttons on her computer and looks back up at me, "Mr. Stark would like to speak with you directly."
"Alright, where is he then? On his way down?"
She shakes her head and stands up from her chair, "I'll escort you to his office right away."

She leads me to an elevator and swipes her keycard before pressing the thirty button. I've only ever ridden in an elevator once, but this one seems much faster than I remember them going. After we arrive at the floor, she takes me down a long hallway to a room with another secretary at a desk.

"Ms. Barton is here." the lady I was with tells the second lady at the desk in front of us.
"Thank you Debbie, I'll let him know right away." the lady at the desk says.
She watches the first lady leave with distaste before pushing a button on her desk "Tony, Zoya Barton is here."
"Send her in." the box on her desk answers.

The lady at the desk gestures to the door with a pleasant smile. I slowly open it to reveal an even larger room with floor to ceiling windows.
"Please close the door behind you." Mr. Stark says.
I close the door and lower myself into a big plush chair in front of his desk.
"How are you adjusting to life with the Bartons?" He asks.
"I enjoy it. As you know, I learned to be what they consider to be a normal teenager. Normal as I can be at least, given my situation. This internship will provide good integration into the real world for me."
"I heard while you were acclimating, you got your GED and started taking online college courses."
I nod, "Getting an education was much easier than I had anticipated."
"I'm sure you'll be a valuable intern."

"I'm everything and more the public will expect from someone my age." I respond confidently.
"Well, most 16 year olds are in high school."
"So I've heard, however my drive and capacity to learn are beyond that of the majority of my peers." I smile politely, "Among other things."
He chuckles, "You've come a long way since you were found. You seem to have developed quite the  personality now."
I lean back in my chair, "I suppose I have you to thank for that, don't I? You chose to keep my secret and let me to live with the Bartons instead of turning me over to the government."
"You can thank Bruce for that. I had no intention of letting you walk free."
My smile fades, "I see."

"On that note, I actually have a favor I wanted to ask you." he says hesitantly.
I clench my jaw, "What would that be exactly?"
"There's this kid, around your age. He's... different as well. I found him around the time Rogers found you. Anyhow, I was hoping to send you to his school to keep an eye on him."
I shake my head, "I already finished school."
"We can discuss you receiving payment. He can be reckless and I don't want him to get in trouble. Obviously, I can't always be around."
"I don't care about money and I don't do that kind of thing anymore."
"I know you're retired. I respect thats , but he's Spider-Man."
"Should that mean something to me?"

He sighs, "He wants to be an Avenger. Bottom line, it's not a mission. Im not asking you to spy on him. I just want you to be his friend."
"Why do I have to go to his school to do that?"
"He's not going to trust you if I send you his way. He's also not really the type of kid you'd just bump into on the street. If he knew I was asking you to babysit him, I'm sure he'd be upset with me; but he needs someone who can watch his back."
I stare at him, unamused.
"Please, I'll owe you a favor." He pleads.
Like forgiving Steve and Bucky?
"What kind of favor?" I ask.
"Anything you like, within reason of course."
"What's within reason?"
"Within the constraints of the law."

I sigh, "Fine, I'll do it."
"Just don't tell Clint or Laura." He clarifies.
I shake my head, "I don't like to keep things from them Tony."
"They might not understand."
"Because it's wrong? Because they would say no? Because they want to protect me?"
"No, no, of course not. This will be good for you." he says halfheartedly.

I scoff, "If you say it'll be great, I don't see what could go wrong."
He rolls his eyes, "I hate sarcasm. It's definitely not cute and endearing if that's what you're going for."
"Does it seem like that's what I'm going for?" I lean back in my chair and study him for a moment, "You sure use a lot of sarcasm for someone who claims hates it."

He ignores me and goes back to what he was saying, "One more thing."
"What?"
"He's going to be suspicious if we use the last name Barton, even though, legally, that's who you are."
"Lying again? Is that all I'm doing now? I don't like to do that."
"I know you don't like that, but think of it as a compromise, just your last name. We'll keep your first name." he faces away from me, "we can make you Zoya something..... Vasile. Nobody has to know."
I complain, "That's a dumb last name."
He rubs the bridge of his nose, "It's a normal last name."
I let out a long sigh, "Fine, whatever."
"And maybe we can make you an eye that's not violet." He suggests.
My jaw tightens, "Will it have the same capabilities?"
"No, you're a  civilian now. Whatever enhancements they gave you, you won't be needing."
"You've obviously never been able to watch a YouTube tutorial in your eye. It's convenient."
"Fine, we'll let you keep your internet access. Does that make you feel better?"
"Will it-" I trail off, "Will it hurt?"
"No, it won't hurt."
"Then that's acceptable terms for me."

He turns back around to face me "So we have a deal?"
I shake his hand, "We have a deal."

Maybe high school will be good for me. Maybe I can make friends. Maybe I can escape her, me, the me I used to be.

I leave Tony's office feeling light. After watching High school movies I had admittedly been a tad disappointed that I never got the chance to attend.
This is my chance. For high school, and to get Steve and Bucky forgiven.