He begins to lead me towards the closest bathroom, and I interlock my fingers with his. It’s working.

As soon as I enter the bathroom, I lock the door behind me and let my helmet appear.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y. please block my voice from exiting my helmet and call Dad.”

“Certainly, Blythe.”

I wait for Dad to pick up, hoping that the call won’t take too long. Spend too long in here and Kai will get suspicious.

“Blythe. What news do you have?”

“OK, so I’m pretending for my life here. I managed to get out of the rope they had around my wrists but Kai walked in after I’d done it. So now I’m pretending that I’m on their side and that I actually like Kai and that I’m dating him. I reckon that they will make me act as if I’m still on your side and that I’m scared, then they’ll threaten me and want a fight. Either that or they’ll get me to announce that I’m on their side and want to meet up for a fight.”

“What do we do until then?”

“Find my coordinates. Be ready. The fight will be close by. Even if they don’t want it I’ll make it happen. Act as if it’s a necessity, to prove that I don’t need you guys and that I can beat you. Just be ready for a call of either type. I don’t know yet. But I should go or I’ll become suspicious.”

“OK, we’ll work on it. Stay safe, Blythe.”

“I will Dad.”

I hang up and my helmet disappears. I make sure to flush the toilet and run the tap - Kai’s not gonna believe that I went to the bathroom if he doesn’t hear those things. I open the door and smile at him, but purposefully have a look of wanting to tell him something on my face.

“What’s up?”

“I’ve just been thinking. I know it hasn’t been very long but…”

“What?”

“Why don’t we have a fight? Not between us, of course. But between Dad, and Papa, and especially Peter. Why don’t we show them what they’re missing? I’ve fought my whole life trying not to be like them, haven’t I? Why don’t I show them what I can really do?”

“Yeah, why not? But we should talk to Dylan and Father first. They need to know what’s happening.”

We walk to wherever Dylan and Mr Warner are, me trailing behind Kai a little. When we walk into the room, Dylan takes once glance at our interlocked fingers and smirks.

“Look what the cat dragged in. My little brother got a girl. Too bad I’ll take her eventually.”

I sigh and my left gauntlet appears as I shoot a repulsor beam at him. He’s blown off his chair, and it’s my time to grin.

“I’d watch your words, Dylan. You can’t hurt me now. You have no reason to. I can fight back and I’m not afraid of you anymore.”

I am, god I am. But I can’t show it. Dylan stands up with a stupid smirk on his face, wiping spit away.

“Little Miss Stark is fighting back. Nice to see her putting up a fight.”

“It’s Rogers, like I’ve told you multiple times. And my name is Blythe. I expect you to know it.”

“Well aren’t you a sassy little bitch?”

“Yeah, I fucking am. What are you gonna do about it?”

“Nothing. Yet.”