More to Learn (AvengersxWolf-Experiment!Reader) 3

Phase 3: Safe House
A freak show. You feel like a walking, talking freak show. It seems as though all eyes are you as you wonder down the winding and seemingly endless halls with Natasha and Clint. You linger close to them both, subconsciously having invited them into your mental wolf pack.

“Calm down, kid. No one knows if that’s what you’re freaking out about.”

“They don’t know?” Your eyes are Natasha when you ask your questions, as though you half believed Clint’s words to be but a joke.

The redhead nods, never taking her eyes from the front, “None of these agents at least.”

“So they do know?” you whisper desperately just as you unconsciously reach out to take up Natasha’s sleeve.

“Yes, but only a select few,” She explains as gently as she can.

“Trust me, they’re all pretty awesome,” Clint chimes in.

“Who?”

“Them,” Clint says simply as you enter a room and he approaches the men who currently occupy it, greeting them with slaps on the shoulders and ‘hey’s.

Your heart stops, lurching up into your throat at the sight of so many different people. It’s only three, excluding Clint and Natasha’s presence. But there’s something alarming about having that many people in a confined space. The fear only grows when all their eyes shift from Clint to you. You’re quick to shuffle behind Natasha, a pitiful attempt to seek cover.

“It’s alright,” Natasha says gently, peering over her shoulder.

“No. No, it isn’t!”

“She alright?” Tony inquiries from across the way and Bruce is quick to hush him.

Your eyes are already darting about the lab, searching out the perfect place to retreat. Your heart is pounding in your chest. Your mind feels as though it’s unraveling at its intellectual seams, instincts taking over.

“(Name), it’s alright…” Natasha tries once more, but all in vain.

“No, it’s not! They know!”

You’re swift as you locate the perfect hiding place, ducking beneath a lab table in the most distant corner. Curling up into the utmost defensive of positions, fangs set at the ready.

“(Name),” Clint tries as he moves to stand beside Natasha.

“Leave me alone!”

“(Name). Calm down.”

“No! …I just need some space. I can’t breathe.”

Natasha looks to Clint and him to her. They both have the same cautious look in their eyes. They’re aware that you are but a frightened child, but if things were to fly south they know what has to be done. Bruce is quick to discern the look upon their faces and he moves forward.

The tears are falling with little hesitance as you huddle in a corner, alone in every aspect of the word. Alone: no family. Alone: no home. Alone: not a single friend.

“(Name),” Bruce calls softly as he takes another small step toward, “It’s alright. I know what you’re feeling.”

“No, you don’t! How could you?!”

“You’re afraid. You’re different and that frightens you.”

Bruce kneels down beside you and you peer up to look at him through your teary vision.

“You’re afraid no one will want anything to do with you. That they’ll fear you and shun you. You’ve read enough to know how the world treats those who are different. I know exactly what you’re feeling.”

The sincerity in his eyes makes you choke on any negative and threatening words. The trembling of your body unnerves you; such a display of weakness was innately thought to be weak. But you felt that way, so very weak. Bruce stretches out a hand as you hiccup on your next inhalation of air. It’s unbearable to be alone, to feel abandoned. You didn’t want to be alone. Even wolves traveled in packs, right?

“Everyone here will take care of you. We’re all rather like outcasts ourselves. A team of misfits.”

You glance past Bruce to peer at the others silently awaiting whatever outcome that may come to be. You quivering gaze then moves back to Bruce as another wave of melancholy washes over you and the tear bubble up once more.

“I don’t want to be alone…”

Bruce smiles softly as he briefly glances down to his outstretched hand and you follow his gaze before looking back to him once more.

“No one does.”

With those words you practically throw yourself into his awaiting arms, sobbing into Bruce’s shoulder as he tenderly pets your hair. There’s a quick loss of tension that had built up in the room. No could’ve ascertain as to what may have occurred and each is relieved to find that the result is bloodless and peaceful.

In time the tears that formerly filled your eyes have stopped and its become easy to breath. You pull away from Bruce to sit back on your haunches as you wipe the wetness about your eyes.

“Your shirt…I’m sorry.”

The brunette shakes his head with a calm smile, “It’s just a shirt and tears dry. Is there something I could get you? A glass of water perhaps?

You look up to him with mellow and hopeful eyes, a slight smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.

“Would you happen to have any tea?”

Bruce chuckles lightly with a smile as he continues to pet the top of your head, “Yeah. I’m sure we can get you some.”

You sigh with the utmost of relief as doctor helps you to your feet, hands gentle as he holds onto yours. It’s nostalgic really, his touch. Gentle and perceptive…just like Father. Your heart quivers pitifully at the thought, but you quickly shrug it off, eyes searching Bruce’s face. Bruce was not Father. He wouldn’t deceive you with sugarcoated lies, you could feel the sincerity of the words rushing through your veins.

“I’ll go get you some tea,” Steve says with sweet smile, “Is there any kid you’d prefer.”

“Early grey please,” you utter softly as you sit in the stool Bruce has delicately escorted you to.

Steve nods with smile before exits the room with Tony, who’s wordlessly deciphered that his temporary absence would be beneficial for you, the door swishing shut behind their retreating figures. You look up and over to Clint and Natasha with an anxious look. The redhead merely shakes her head with a smile and Clint steps in to vocalize what she means.

“No sense in talking while you’re all shaken up. Just relax a bit and catch your breath, alright?”

You merely nod, but there’s a great rush of relief. You almost feel juvenile for having acted out to begin with, but no one seems likely to hold it against you. In time Steve and Tony will return with tea and while you silently sip at the warm beverage, the others would tell you about themselves, opening the emotional doors first so that you would comfortably follow suit.

They’re nice and friendly, but you’ve never had friends before. How was one to behave? What was one to say? But it would seem none of that mattered. They’d start off one subject miraculously venturing to another, playfully arguing along the way. You listen with the utmost of attention, laughing and smiling when something said makes you do so. It’s peculiar. It’s strange, but for once in your life being special—being different—made you feel so very wondrously normal and that felt good. It felt…safe…like a  home.