[ It's not a question. She remembers Hopper's words, too - that he wasn't mad, that he was just sorry. That he was scared to lose her, and that's why he kept her hidden away perhaps a bit too much.
Nothing ever happens. Nothing ever happens, and you stay SAFE.
She thinks about saying goodbye to Mike, when she thought that destroying the Demogorgon would kill her, too. She doesn't think she should tell Clint about that. That like Natasha, she has an understand of self-sacrifice to save others.
She also remembers Mike and Lucas fighting when Mike wanted to include her in the party, and Lucas wasn't happy about it. They'd all made up later. Lucas is her friend now. But she doesn't want Clint and Tony to fight because of her. ]
If you don't want me. To be an Avenger. I will not be on the team.
[ Even if it's stupid. Even if she will be mad about it. Even if it will hurt. ]
Yeah. I'm scared something's gonna happen to you. Even though you're really strong. But if you have a team watching your back, there's less chance of something happening.
[A sigh, and he scrubs his face.]
It's hard for people to see it when they're young, but the idea of someone really young being in danger is really scary. Just because you can fight doesn't mean you should.
But I know you're gonna fight anyway. Cuz that's what you've learned to do. And you know you can. So. This isn't my decision to make. It's not my choice.
[ That's soft, but honest. Eleven's grown attached. ]
I'm young, but I'm strong. And that's scary for you. But... you're old and weak. That's scary for me. [ Sorry, Clint, she doesn't mean that nearly half as mean as it sounds. She means 'grown up' as opposed to 'child' and 'no powers' as opposed to 'strong psychic and telekinetic abilities'. ] Back home. I could have.
[ She stops herself for a moment, and he will hear what sounds like a stifled sob. ]
I could have. Stayed with Kali. From the lab. To find people who hurt us. To kill. For Kali. For me. But my friends were in danger. So I went home. I don't choose to fight. I choose to protect. Myself. My friends. Laura. Erik. You.
[He lets her get through it, and doesn't interrupt. She does seem to get it. He doesn't know her history, but she gets it. She wants to protect. Not fight, not get revenge, not use her power for the sake of power.]
Okay. I'm glad that's what you did. [He's quiet. But calmer about it.] That's what an Avenger would do.
[He's going to leave the question of what that makes him after five years aside. Feels more like a former title these days as it is.]
Hey. Listen. I'm not your dad. I'm not your boss. I'm your friend, okay?
[ She wipes at her eyes, and smiles as she hears those words. She can't help it, the way she craves praise and affirmation. That's how Papa raised her - and she's bad at picking up on other social cues. She will not feel appreciated, wanted or loved unless the words are specifically said to her. She can't read other cues well, if at all. ]
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brandingproblem) wrote2025-03-24 12:12 pm
no subject
[ It's not a question. She remembers Hopper's words, too - that he wasn't mad, that he was just sorry. That he was scared to lose her, and that's why he kept her hidden away perhaps a bit too much.
Nothing ever happens.
Nothing ever happens, and you stay SAFE.
She thinks about saying goodbye to Mike, when she thought that destroying the Demogorgon would kill her, too. She doesn't think she should tell Clint about that. That like Natasha, she has an understand of self-sacrifice to save others.
She also remembers Mike and Lucas fighting when Mike wanted to include her in the party, and Lucas wasn't happy about it. They'd all made up later. Lucas is her friend now. But she doesn't want Clint and Tony to fight because of her. ]
If you don't want me. To be an Avenger. I will not be on the team.
[ Even if it's stupid. Even if she will be mad about it. Even if it will hurt. ]
no subject
[A sigh, and he scrubs his face.]
It's hard for people to see it when they're young, but the idea of someone really young being in danger is really scary. Just because you can fight doesn't mean you should.
But I know you're gonna fight anyway. Cuz that's what you've learned to do. And you know you can. So. This isn't my decision to make. It's not my choice.
no subject
[ That's soft, but honest. Eleven's grown attached. ]
I'm young, but I'm strong. And that's scary for you. But... you're old and weak. That's scary for me. [ Sorry, Clint, she doesn't mean that nearly half as mean as it sounds. She means 'grown up' as opposed to 'child' and 'no powers' as opposed to 'strong psychic and telekinetic abilities'. ] Back home. I could have.
[ She stops herself for a moment, and he will hear what sounds like a stifled sob. ]
I could have. Stayed with Kali. From the lab. To find people who hurt us. To kill. For Kali. For me. But my friends were in danger. So I went home. I don't choose to fight. I choose to protect. Myself. My friends. Laura. Erik. You.
no subject
Okay. I'm glad that's what you did. [He's quiet. But calmer about it.] That's what an Avenger would do.
[He's going to leave the question of what that makes him after five years aside. Feels more like a former title these days as it is.]
Hey. Listen. I'm not your dad. I'm not your boss. I'm your friend, okay?
And I'm your teammate, now.
no subject
Friends.
[ The watery little smile is audible. ]
Teammates. We protect each other.
[ Like him and Natasha.
Right? ]