ESZTER HEADS BACK TO A HALF EMPTY TOWER. After 2 years of staying with Tony and Pepper, the enhanced had found the Avengers Tower an unlikely home. It was luxurious and spacious, granting Eszter more needed space from the adults whenever she wished for space away from everyone. For the most part, Eszter enjoyed it; however, it got rather boring being all alone. It wasn't comfortable, and most of the time, Eszter never was home because she always dreaded being in the tower when no one else was home. Whenever Pepper or Tony are out and working, Eszter is usually home alone, but with the company of F.R.I.D.A.Y., who is often ordered to become the enhanced's babysitter under Tony's word. F.R.I.D.A.Y. often scares Eszter, forgetting about the A.I. still connected to the building.

Eszter slung her backpack low on her shoulder as it began to throb due to the weight pulling on her shoulder, but the enhanced continues back home. It was another typical day at school, another day of either being ignored or doing the ignoring. Eszter was pretty sure people were gossiping about her once again. Sometimes, going to school with strange powers has both its pros and cons, and most of the time, it can be cons; teachers aren't that fond of Eszter, nor do they bother sticking up for the enhanced, but the students can be the worst when they feel like it. However, Eszter has come across a few people who admire her powers, praising how she could've become an Avenger had she not chosen the boring life.

With that in mind, Eszter kept her circle small and private. The enhanced found it hard to make friends in school, but in the beginning, it was more difficult as most of them were either rude or plain fake; it turned out, most of them would rather see an Avenger rather than be Eszter's friend. However, when she met her three closest friends, they were difficult from the rest.

Meeting Ned was difficult for Eszter to befriend because the boy was such a fanatic, but he was one of the many people the enhanced had met from the first day she started school. Ned was a little too hyper for Eszter, constantly talking about superheroes and the Avengers; Eszter was tempted to stop talking to the boy merely out of annoyance. It always felt like Ned was trying to be friends with Eszter to meet the Avengers, just as everyone else before him, making Eszter feel worse about herself. However, as time progressed, Ned became more tolerable; his constant blabbering about superheroes slowly faded away as he genuinely started to get to know Eszter. The two became unlikely friends.

But that's how Eszter met Peter; Ned was already friends with the boy, and all he had to do was introduce them. Eszter noticed it from the very beginning, and the enhanced didn't need her powers to see how nervous Peter was when they first met. He was flustered. Stuttering over his words, choking on air as he tries to muster up a conversation that would've weird Eszter out. They were rather different, yet somehow Peter and Eszter were so similar. It wasn't hard for the two to become best of friends.

Lastly, Eszter met Michelle when she joined the Decathlon team after Ned and Peter recommended the club. Eszter remembered how immensely awkward it was for her when she first met Michelle because the girl is blunt; she tends to be brutally honest. When Michelle discovered Eszter's powers, it felt like the girl was making fun of the enhanced. Embarrassed and offended, the enhanced nearly dropped the team, but she didn't want others to feel superior in making fun of her. So, Eszter confronted Michelle--it turns out that Michelle was only joking. Then, the two became best friends, and sometimes, the two often like to have their own gossip among themselves.

Ever since Tony stood down from being Iron Man, Eszter expected the man to be home more frequently than she had thought, but Tony is rarely home. Always out for meetings with the government, everything being confidential, Eszter was never up to date with the Avengers' situation. Tony doesn't usually tell her everything, and Eszter guesses that it's fine, but the enhanced wishes she could know a little more about what's happening.

But now, according to the news, the Avengers have been in the spotlight for various accusations, and most of them haven't been the nicest. It peeved Eszter a little whenever the news would nitpick at everything that the heroes would do, but whenever they'd attack Wanda for trying her best, Eszter swears she nearly went off. Offended by the insults directed towards her sister, Eszter couldn't believe her ears. Wanda had caused something that wasn't remotely her fault, but all the blame is still directed onto her, posing her as a threat.

Nevertheless, the group of heroes has risked their lives to protect people from all around the world, and this is how they are repaid? With hatred? It was ridiculous. Eszter remembered hearing how distraught Wanda sounded on the phone call after the incident in Nigeria, claiming she didn't know what else to do. Eszter felt bad.

Now, they have to sign the Sokovian Accords.

But that's not the only thing that has changed.

Because Wanda was posed as a threat worldwide (even before the Sokovian Accords), everything led back to Eszter; the enhanced remembered one day after heading home from school, finding the US military accompanied the Avengers Tower as a guest to Tony's home. Rightfully confused, Eszter would dismiss the men and women as she tried to head to her room, but when they had requested for her, Eszter wished that she could've walked faster to her room. In fear of Wanda's powers, Ross wanted to make sure that no one dangerous was to be left in the world unsupervised.

It had barely been a day after any incidents involving the Avengers when they stormed the tower, catching Eszter off-guard as the enhanced barely had time to think before they snapped a dampener around her neck. Many hurtful words exchanged, mostly Eszter as she sneered between the US military and Tony, hurt that he hadn't bothered to defend her. It turned out that he had already made up his mind, agreeing with Ross. Eszter wanted to protect herself and flee, but Eszter was met with a sharp pain coursing through her even as she attempted. From that moment forward, Eszter had to wear a dampener, revealing that she was, in fact, Wanda Maximoff's sister--and to those who didn't believe it, they do now.

Ever since Tony had backed down from being Iron Man, he had learned not to fight back and stick by the rules for the sake of the people. He learned that their consequences not only hurt them but to the people as well. Tony would say that it's for the best, in most situations as he sits back and lets someone deal with it; the man who used to want to make a difference now sits in the corner, letting someone else do the job that he refuses. And now, Tony let them lock Eszter, preventing the enhanced her own freedom even after she had done nothing wrong.

Eszter finally stumbled inside the building and reached the penthouse level. Sighing in relief, the enhanced drops her bag right next to the door. Her eyes shift around the room upon spotting the several boxes already piling around the room. After staying in the tower for 2 years, Tony finally sold the building since there was no need for the building, especially now that the Avengers have their own facility in a more secluded location.

"Welcome home, Miss Maximoff," F.R.I.D.A.Y. greets.

"How many times do I have to remind you, F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" Eszter rolls her eyes playfully, making her way to the bar area that was now age-appropriate, grabbing herself a drink. "Just call me Eszter."

"One too many."

Eszter hums as she turns around and heads for her room; the enhanced stopped abruptly after noticing something on the table. Confused, Eszter glances at the table and inspects the items, finding some of her favorite food and sweets placed in a line--starting from Panda Express to chocolate cookies to Coca-Cola. Eszter perks a brow as she stared at each of the items, a few cupcakes here and there and some chicken drumsticks in a to-go box. A little pleased to see her favorite dishes on the table, Eszter nears the table; as she inspects them, Eszter stares at the cupcakes.

Each cupcake has a ring stuck on the frosting, an Avenger's face placed in the middle of the ring. Eszter couldn't help but chuckles at it as she plucks a cupcake, grabbing a red cupcake with Wanda's face as a ring.

"Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y., should I be worried that all of my favorite snacks are neatly set for me?" Eszter wonders out loud, knowing too well the trickeries that are being pulled, but the enhanced lets it slide as she takes a bite of her cupcake. "Not that I'm complaining. This cupcake is really good."

"I was told strictly not to tell."

Humming, Eszter wipes the pad of her thumb against her lip, cleaning the frosting off. "I see your bribes are getting better," the enhanced could feel another presence in the room, barely using her powers. "At least you got the cookies right." Eszter turns around at the sound of footsteps walking into the room, a sheepish smile on his face. "Raisins are gross."

Tony has done this a few times whenever he needed something, and usually, Eszter wouldn't mind. Most of the time, it was for the military's purpose. She supposes she'd do anything to get the dampener off, but so far, nothing pleased Ross, and Eszter is still forced to wear her dampener. Besides, better to obliged than get deported, right?

Itching the area around the dampener, Eszter cringes.

"Alright, you caught me."

Eszter scoffs, knowing damn well that Tony would only do this for his benefit. She wonders what it will be this time. What could Ross possibly want more from her? He binds her from using her powers unless it's for the country's benefit, which annoyed Eszter to no ends. The enhanced hates feeling used for her abilities and only to be locked away, unable to use her powers freely. Eszter was a slave to the country.

"What could you possibly want now?" Eszter grunts. Tossing the empty wrapper on the table as she opens the Panda Express to-go box, scooping up the rice as she avoids Tony's gaze. "Or let me guess, Ross needs me for one of his top-secret missions?"

Tony clears his throat. "There's been a situation . . . back in Berlin," Eszter doesn't reply as she slurps up her noodles, the enhanced reaches for a Coke as Tony continues. "And we need your help--I need your help."

The silence fills the room as Eszter stops eating, feeling like she was losing her appetite; the enhanced pulls away from the box as she lowers her spoon into the box. She should've known Tony would walk in here and ask Eszter for another favor, one that involves Ross, once again. Like a never-ending cycle. Once again, Tony was siding with the law and ignoring Eszter's wishes to remain a proper teen and go to school.

But would it be too much to expect something from Tony? Just this once? But no, Eszter couldn't because each time, Tony had lied after another. Like an idiot, the enhanced would always believe him, thinking she'd get to have her freedom in the end; however, Eszter was feeling tired from the lack of promises, leaving her to wonder when she'd reach the end.

"Tony . . ." Eszter mutters low, almost hesitant to fight back because she's played this game one too many times, and always, the enhanced never wins. "I--I can't keep doing this. I called it quits the year you nearly got the whole world destroyed--" Tony opens his mouth, ready to defend himself. "--wait until I'm done. I thought moving in with you was going to be my way out? But now, all I've been doing these past years is doing Ross' dirty work."

Tony catches the bitterness in her words, the way they sneered at him in distaste. It hurt him deeply to see the exhaustion in Eszter's eyes, yet the man continues to strain the enhanced. He understands Eszter's frustrations, but he has no choice but to recruit her for anything Ross requests. This is how things are now.

Like something twisting around his chest and tightening, Tony sputters. "It'll come off," the man nearly cringes, but by the look on Eszter's face, she almost believed him. Damn, Tony was going to regret this. "And we'll consider your resignation. But only if you help."

"Why should I believe you?" Eszter crosses her arms, looking at Tony expectantly. Humming for an answer, the enhanced furrows her brows as she glares at the man. "If I remember clearly, I should've had this thing off months ago."

"Look, I know I haven't been frank, and I'm sorry, but I don't exactly have a say," Tony tries to plea. However, Eszter looks at him dully before turning around to her food. "Okay, okay! I can't take it off, but Ross . . . he promised me that if you do us this one favor, then presto! You're free, kid."

Eszter sat in thought as she contemplated the idea, but a small part of her didn't want to go through with this. However, the thought of taking off the dampener sounded nice, and Eszter hates having the contraption on, so she was tempted. Eszter misses how she used her telekinesis for the smallest things, using it for useless efforts to clean her room or get something from the high shelf. Eszter never once used her powers for a malicious reason, making it confusing as to why the enhanced was ever put on power-arrest.

Her powers have become such second-nature, Eszter felt weird not having the safety of her powers.

Nevertheless, Eszter was suddenly interested.

"What's the situation in Berlin?"

"I'm glad you asked," Tony snaps his fingers, point at the girl once she turned around, and met his gaze once again. "Cap's gone . . . haywire. He's helping a few fugitives and is going against the law." Tony pops open the case of cookies, taking one for himself as he takes a bite. "All we have to do is bring them in."

"So, let me get this straight. You want me to help you bring in Captain America . . . over some Accords," Eszter tests, not seeming to see the issue. From What Eszter had heard, the enhanced wouldn't want to sign the papers either. "Should this really be your concern?"

Tony's eye twitches. "Fugitives," he interjects quickly. "He's helping fugitives."

Eszter hums, nodding almost absently. "What was their names again? John . . . Ja--James-something-Buchanan and, uh . . . what's her name?" Tony visibly tenses, knowing who she's referring to, but the man quickly covers up his expression. "Daisy or Darcy, I think. Aren't they the Winter Soldier and Ghost?"

Mouth dry, Tony stammers. "Uh, yeah, yeah. How do you even know them?"

The enhanced shrugs. "The news."

"Yeah, well, he's a murderer."

Eszter mutters beneath her breath, meant only for her ears only. "A hot murderer," the enhanced chuckles to herself.

Overhearing Eszter's comment, Tony scoffs in disgust. Hearing Eszter talk about a guy like that is definitely something Tony would rather not hear. Call him protective and whatnot, but it was displeasing to the ears, and Tony would like it if Eszter didn't think about guys like that. Over the past 2 years, Eszter had grown to find the boys in her school attractive; now, Tony has a reason not to want a daughter--boys.

God, Tony didn't think his life would turn out like this, worrying about the girl he volunteered to shelter, dreaming, and thinking about boys. What's he supposed to do? This is Pepper's job, right? Maybe she would know what to do.

"Wha--? What is this? Gross. No, no," Tony shakes his head in disapproval, trying to forget what he heard as Eszter cackles. "You're just a kid. He's an old man."

Eszter shrugs. "It's true," the enhanced catches the look from Tony, so she feigns seriousness. "Okay, I'll stop." She rolls her eyes, huffing a little. "So, if I help . . . you'll take this off, and you and Ross will leave me alone? For good?"

Tony nods rather quickly, unsure if Eszter could feel his nerves. "Yep. Sure. Whatever," the enhanced looks at him suspiciously. "Are you in or not?"

Before Eszter could sense his emotions, the enhanced quickly made her decision. "I guess," she pauses in thought. "Do you know who else will be there?"

A sense of dread lingers in Eszter's chest, wondering if Wanda would be dragged into this just as she is. A small part of Eszter knew she shouldn't go along with it, but maybe things will be different. However, from the number of times she's been delayed, Eszter should know what she's getting herself into. Eszter knows that Tony is lying. She can sense the hesitancy in his emotions, the guilt, but the enhanced was hoping that this time will be different. If she plans on fighting her friend, Eszter better get something out of this.

"Well, it'll be you, me, Rhodey . . ."

"No, I mean, do you know who might be helping Steve?"

"As of what we know, just James Buchanan and Darcy Carter."

Eszter furrows her brows. "Then why would Ross need so many of us? Why not just send you and Rhodey?"

"Because he's recruiting."

"And Wanda?"

Tony waves his hand. "Don't worry. She's safe," he assures, noticing the nervous look on Eszter's face as the enhanced hadn't heard too much from Wanda since Lagos. "She's been staying with Vision for the time being. You know, until everything blows over."

But still, Eszter frowns. "But Steve . . . he's our friend," the enhanced wasn't sure if she could bring herself to capture the very man who had helped her and her siblings. The very man who tried so hard to bring Eszter to see the light. Steve became a good friend to Eszter, and even as she went in for a few training sessions, Steve was always there to help. "It doesn't feel right."

"I get it, but Steve isn't abiding by the laws, kid."

Was it wrong for Eszter to go through with this? She has met up with Steve, Natasha, and Wanda a few times during the past 2 years and contributing to a few training sessions, building a friendship between one another. Since then, Eszter hasn't seen too much of Steve whenever they'd head off on a mission, leaving the enhanced to train with another agent from the Avengers Compound.

After a while, Eszter slowly stopped appearing at the Avengers Compound when school got in the way; slowly, the enhanced wasn't able to go in for her weekly training as they turned into a monthly training. Usually, the summer was the best time for Eszter, but the enhanced started to hate it over time. Then, Eszter was no longer training within a year-and-a-half, meaning she saw Steve, Natasha, and Wanda less.

Suddenly, Tony claps his hands together, causing Eszter to jump from her thoughts. The man flashes her a smile. "Great! Now, just gotta recruit one more before we can head out."

"We need another person?" Eszter furrows her brows, watching as Tony was slowly backing away. "Who?"

"I don't know. He goes by Spiderling . . . Spider-boy?"

"Spider-Man?" Eszter exclaims, a little excited.

The famous Spider-Man, popular on Youtube for all of his crime-stopping videos, swinging around the city of Queens. His identity has yet to be revealed, but Eszter had always wanted to meet the neighborhood hero for some time. He had become popular in school, and there was often small chatter of the web-slinging hero.

"Sure," Tony chirps over his shoulder, circling the wall. "Get packin'! I will be picking you up shortly!"

With no goodbye, Tony slips out of the penthouse and leaving Eszter alone in her own thoughts, a little excited to meet Spider-Man. The thought of the dampener or even the future fight in Berlin had left Eszter's mind, but thinking about what it will be like to meet Spider-Man for the first time.

As Eszter packs a small bag of her clothes, her phone rings from her bed. Discarding her clothes messily on her bag, reaching across her bed where her phone sat, charging. Checking the screen, a picture of her and Ned appears on the screen.

"Hey, Ned," Eszter answers the call after unplugging the phone from her charger, holding it between her cheek and shoulder, continuing her folding.

"Eszter! Thank God you answered," Ned exclaims through the line, overly excited. "I'm getting a new LEGO set, and you'll never guess what it is!"

Eszter chuckles softly, tucking into a rolled-up shirt in her bag, shaking her head at her friend's enthusiasm. "Star Wars?"

"Star Wars! Yes! You know me so well."

"Well, you've been talking about it non-stop, so . . ." Eszter clears her throat, zipping her backpack shut. "Was that all you called for?"

"Yes . . . no, wait. Did you hear about the Sokovian Accords? It's everywhere!"

Eszter closes her eyes as she pinches the bridge of her nose. "Yes, Ned. I keep up with the news, you know," she tries to be nice about it, but the enhanced was tired of hearing about this.

"So, you know about Captain America being a fugitive now?" Eszter cringes. "Ah, man! This is epic! I mean, not for Captain America--he's kind of a war criminal now."

Becoming more distant in the topic and a little uncomfortable, Eszter clears her throat again. "Yeah. Anyway, uh, I have to go, Ned. Tony's gonna be picking me up soon, and the old man is impatient--" there was shuffling on the other end of the line, but Eszter dismisses it as she continues to let Ned go. "I'll see you at school."

"But I have so many questions! Like, if Spider-Man is gonna join? Or--oh, my gosh! You?"

Eszter chuckles. "Bye, ned," she sing-songs. Then, Eszter hangs up.

Breathe in, breathe out.

What could go wrong?