Gangster Child

Aftermath

 "Alright this is bullshit!" I snapped. Maggie sighed and gave me a stern look as Cassie giggled at my language. "Mom, I'm sorry, but the team hasn't called me since the attack happened." It's been a week since everyone went dusty and in that time, I have heard jack squat from my other family. The least they could do was maybe send a text! Just ask if I'm alive or tell me who on their end isn't!

"Honey, maybe they're trying to keep you safe."

"What kind of asinine logic is that? They know that I broke into a museum just to keep someone else safe! You know, I still have a friend out here who flies cargo ships who could get me to New York. She's a drug dealer, but that's the least of my issues right now obviously." There was a silence over the room and I looked to see Maggie watching me with a slightly dropped jaw. I bit my lip and brushed my hair back. "Tony didn't tell you my exciting adventures I've had recently, did he?" She shook her head as Paxton kept Cassie's ears covered.

"Sadie, come sit down," Maggie said firmly. I walked over and sat next to her on the couch. "This instinct you have? The one where everything's going to shit so you just have to run away... It's why Paxton and I adopted you. We thought that this would be an amazing opportunity to give a beautiful young woman who has always been so scared of having a good life, the family she deserves."

"Yeah and look how that turned out," I mumbled "The world goes to shit and I have ten plans on how to get to New York."

"Do any of those plans end with you in New York?"

"The one where I hitched a ride on the Drug dealer's cargo plane did. But I don't have money so that won't end well once I get there." Maggie shook her head in amusement and hugged me close.

"I have another idea," she said softly "you wait here and grow up. If the team reaches out, then we'll give you some money to pay for your plane ride, but on an actual airplane. Over my dead body will you go on a plane with someone who might kill you."

"Aw thanks Mom. That means a lot." She laughed and kissed my forehead before Cassie and Paxton moved to form a group hug with us.

"Do you think they'll call soon?"

"Honey look at it this way. They just lost a battle that cost them half the universe. If keeping you here means to them keeping you safe, then they're going to do it. For however long that is, I don't know."

"I hope it's not long."