Cassie was sitting on a tree stump, absently making circles in the dirt before her with a dry piece of twig. Honey the Lemur sat next to her like the obedient little thing she was occasionally looking up at her Mistress with wide honey colored eyes.

Outside the girl appeared as she was. A blue eyed, golden haired 19 year old who owned a monkey circus and was really good at what she did.

But inside she was trembling.

Trembling with the possibility of her family splitting up.

What would happen to her if the circus did split up? She wouldn’t be able to take it. Too many people had left her in the short span of nineteen years. Her mother. Her sister. And then finally her father. If it hadn’t been for the people of the circus she would never have been able to survive for this long. Honestly it was amazing how she turned out with how messed up her life was.

But now her life seemed bleak.

Suddenly throwing the twig she was holding, startling her monkey in the process, the blonde buried her head in her hands, not bothering with who saw her. She wasn’t crying. She was just so tired. She wasn’t as emotionally strong as she would’ve liked herself to be.

Cassie didn’t know how long she just sat there, with Honey cuddling into her neck, tail wrapped around her head, when she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder and she looked up.

That was why she was walking around outside. To look for the young girl. Sharon knew about Cassie's past, about how this must be making her feel. Over the past few years, she had somewhat become a mentor to Cassie, a friend in a time of need. Honestly, she considered the little girl family. Which was another reason Sharon knew that she would be okay. Because no matter which act got sold, Cassie would still be with her, the little sister she had always wanted, but had never thought to be a possibility. 

I have a lot of work to do

Since the Carnival Fabulon had began its slow descent into debt, Ophelia had made every effort to reduce unneccessary costs - this included the drivers they usually hired to drive their trucks and buses from city to city. Her circus was rather traditional, nothing like the new Cirque Du Soleil show. No, the Fabulon was a breath of something old: the large red and white tent that was mantled and dismantled overnight leaving not a trace behind, and outside the tent the marvels that drew in curious audiences. For years, the nostalgic charm of Carnival had been its best feature, aside from the talented circus performers and the street rats who could transform themselves into the ridiculous and eerie and make the audience believe it.

And because Ophelia was a rather fair ringmaster, one who wouldn’t ask the others to do something she wouldn’t be willing to do herself (most of the time anyway, even she had her limits), the jade eyed woman had taken the night owl shift of driving the bus. The road was rather empty, peaceful almost, and most of her performers had settled down as well. Tensions had risen since her announcement, but thus far they’d managed to keep their interactions civil. She spared a glance in the rear view mirror. Without their vibrant costumes and ethereal make up they all looked so…mundane. None of the superlatives Ophelia used to describe their work applied to them like this. To be fair, in a loose cotton top and sweatpants, hair pulled in a haphazard bun, she looked just as human as the rest of them.

Focusing back on the road, she hummed quietly to herself - one of the Romanian Folk Dances by Bartok. She was hoping to use the score as a theme for their next show; the music was both enchanting and exhilirating; perhaps a slow acrobatic act for the third movement, she mused. The ringmaster’s hands tightened slightly on the wheel when she noticed the reflection of a figure in the windshield. Quietly, so as to not wake the others, she tilted her head and spoke in that lilting voice that entranced so many others, with the barest hint of the Hungarian accent she’d never quite managed to hide.

When Sharon turned the young age of 14, she realized no family would want to take her in. She was too old, too ordinary. So, she ran. It wasn't long before she found the circus and decided to see if her skill would work there. After all, people enjoyed seeing strange and fascinating things. And while she knew that she herself was nothing special, she knew her unlikely talent could be. After much thought, Ophelia decided to take her in and use her in the show. They had worked out the performance, if that's what you would call it. Sharon would simply go into a see-through tank filled with water, in a mermaid costume and  move around underwater until she couldn't any longer. By now, she could remain underwater for up to an hour without needing a break. It amazed her still to this day that so many people would stand and watch her, mostly when she really didn't do any trick under the water. But, with her long blonde hair, slender body, and the skimpy mermaid costume she wore, she could see how people could be slightly fascinated with her. She truly did resemble that of a mermaid at times.

Sharon finally had what she had always wanted, a family. Even if they were called freaks, this was her home. And when she had hear the news that one of the shows was going to be sold, she drove herself mad with worry. What would she do without all of these people? Sometimes she knew they didn't get along, but that was true within any family. But, the announcement had caused a rift between the members of the two shows, one that made Sharon feel like she was a young girl at the orphanage again. That was why she was up, not that she ever really slept much anyways. She couldn't sit still any longer and decided to see who was still awake. As she passed through the seats, she could tell she might be the only one. But, she knew someone had to be driving the bus, so she made her way to the front. 

Jessica found herself thanking whatever deity might be listening that she could fly.

Ever since she had returned to the city, she had been feeling disconnected from her former life that she had established in this supposedly great city and from all of her friends, and honestly, she was at a loss over how to stop that disconnected feeling. How do you get over being replaced by a shapeshifting alien and no one appeared to have noticed that you had been replaced?

Instead of letting herself go crazy sitting around in the Avengers Tower, Jessica decided some action was needed. What better way to get some than to patrol the busy, crime polluted streets of New York City? Hence why she was flying above the packed streets, going from building to building while looking out for some troublemakers to apprehend. She soon realised that she wasn’t going to spot anything if she stuck to the main streets so she diverted her path to the back streets, which was usually prime for catching criminals in the act.

She was high up flying in between the tall buildings New York was known for when she noticed a sting in operation. Two guys, one each at an end of an alleyway and their victim, a woman, was stuck in the middle of them. Jessica knew this had bad news written all over it so she swooped in to get a closer look.

As the men reduced the gap between them and their victim, Jessica noticed something ‘off’. Well, not exactly ‘off’, more unexpected. The woman was preparing herself to defend herself. A grin formed itself on Jessica’s lips as the woman smacked the guy behind her with her elbow and let out a cheer as the woman crushed her second attacker’s nose with her open palm. That’s when Jessica realised that the woman hadn’t just been extremely diligent in whatever self-defence classes she had been attending, she had been fully trained.

Jessica hung on the side of the alleyway, just out of reach but close enough to drop in should the woman need help, although that seemed highly unlikely, watching the action with her grin still in place. Once the attackers had been knocked out, Jessica let herself drop to the ground and she let out a laugh.

"Just got back in town a week ago, actually. Russian Op." She knew she wouldn't be asked to explain farther, so she didn't. Instead, she motioned to the street at the end of the dark alley. "Mind if we talk somewhere a little better lit? Not that I mind kicking some more idiots heads in, if they dared to try, but a drink would be nice, if you are up for it." Sharon actually found herself hoping that the other woman took her up on her offer. She had moved into Shae's the day before, but knew that the communications agent wouldn't be home anytime soon, and could use the company. The hotel had been a little lonesome, even for her. 

The shorter agent jammed a hand into her hair in exasperation. “I don’t how you manage anything,” she teased. “You probably got us here in the first place. In fact, yeah. If I were a betting woman- which I am, I’d bet that this was all your fault, Thirteen,” Shae drawled, baiting the blonde into reacting (even though she was purposely being a shit). She lifted her shoulders and shrugged. “I don’t remember any space ships. But I don’t remember a goddamn thing,” she muttered, tilting her head toward Sharon as she pointed at the building with the steady stream of humanoids going in and out. “A good deduction, Watson.” Jesus, what’d she drink last night? It’d left her in a surprisingly good mood, despite the pressure building on her brain. She moved past her friend, brushing her elbow as she crossed the street- keeping an eye out for any more of whatever the hell that was that Sharon had stepped in, and approached the weird-looking building. “Who are these people?” she asked, squinting at their riot gear before recognizing the familiar design- three golden circles.

She drew in a deep breath, when had she become lead on this? It was true, what the other agent had said earlier, it was probably Sharon's fault that they had ended up here. She knew she had a bad habit of coming up with less than glorious ideas when she was drinking with her friends. She could see it now, herself and Shae sitting at a bar on Earth, drinks in their hand, her running her mouth on and on about going into space. It would make sense, it was one of the only places Sharon Carter had never been. Missions had sent her all across the globe, but always on Earth. 

I could say the same for you, ma’am. Haven’t seen you around either. Well I’ve been up in space, actually.

Miss Organised or what… Wow. Paperwork would’ve been sitting there for several more weeks, if ever. Probably why they don’t leave me with much, because I’d probably never do it.

She was quiet for a moment, thinking hard how she’d ask, or even offer, the spare room in her apartment. It was her first instinct, of course, and she’d love having Sharon around- moving out of Betsy’s penthouse flat had been tough, and despite what she’d experienced at her old place (it’d been shoddily restored and then held for her, thanks to a special arrangement with Fury that he’d deny had ever happened) it still felt like home. It might be good to have company, anyway, especially when the friends that she did have were so scarce. “I moved back to the old place,” she said, letting the pint sit heavy atop the bar again and she swirled the glass on its bottom edge as a distraction. “You know there’s a spare room there if you want it, Thirteen.” It wasn’t as though she needed protection from anything or anyone, but two guns were always better than one. After the FBI’s little intrusion into her daily routine, and the fact that Tyler was spending less and less time on land, she might feel a bit more at ease with someone else sharing the same space at random intervals (because no matter how hard they tried, the two women would never find a compatible schedule). “Anyway, you’re welcome to it,” she said with a small shrug, finally pushing the glass to the inner edge of the bar and shaking her head when the bartender gave her another questioning glance.

Sharon thought on the idea of moving he with Shae for a moment. It would be nice, she needed the space and she knew Shae's apartment just as good as she had known her old one. Plus, it would be refreshing to actually get to see the other woman, even when their schedules weren't matching up. She knew that it wasn't a pity offering, either. If Shae didn't want her there, she wouldn't have offered. "Trying to keep an eye on me, huh?" She winked to make sure the brunette knew she was only kidding. "Either way, I'll take you up on it. The hotel tab is getting a little pricy, I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D. wants me out of there as soon as possible." Plus, she wanted out of there. Staying in the hotel made her feel as though she was just on another mission, that she could be pulled out at any time. 

He shrugged his bag off of his shoulder, and shoved one hand in the pocket of his jeans, glancing briefly up at the sky, and inhaled deeply. Then he looked back at Sharon and laughed.

"God… it’s… been a long time, hasn’t it?" he asked, quietly. He wasn’t sure whether or not to hug her, or shake her hand, or just continue standing there awkwardly as per usual. Where did they stand? Where did he stand with anyone at SHIELD now, after his little disappearing act? But Sharon didn’t exactly seem partial to that information, or at least not particularly upset about it—likely because she too had been away. So he decided to just keep things surfacey, for the moment.

"It has been a long time, Bruce." She could tell the situation was a little awkward. They had gone from being an agent and an avenger, to sleeping together in the woods, to being friends, to hardly ever speaking. A full circle, in the eyes of some. But, she had missed their friendship. He had always been so easy to talk to. Never tried to pry when she didn't want to tell and never attempted to get secret S.H.I.E.L.D. information from her. So, thinking about how she had missed him, she pulled him into a small hug. Not too long, not too short, and took a step back. 

She had known he had disappeared, it was one of the first bits of news she had received when she had gotten home. That was why she was here, just wanted to make sure he was okay. Lower level things, like disappearing Avengers, was not something she dealt with. If he had needed time away from New York, from S.H.I.E.L.D., from the Avengers, it didn't bother her in the least. Not as far as work was concerned, anyways. She wasn't going to be angry with him, as she too had been known to do the same thing. 

She took another long swig of beer, hating it but not saying otherwise. Whiskey would always be her drink of choice, but even on days like today sometimes one had to forego the simpler pleasures in life. Shae shrugged and took another drink while trying to think about how to answer the question. Sharon wanted the truth and she deserved it, but was it really something she wanted to dwell on? The fact that her nights were becoming less and less plagued with sweat-soaked dreams about blurred faces and piercing yellow stares was a good thing, so why wreck that? “I was walking around outside at night. I was a little drunk, but are you surprised?” She drained the glass, leaving the bottom awash with foam and the slightest leftover amber liquid. She and the bartender shared a long look before she nodded. He came over and silently replaced the glass with a new one. This might be a longer lunch than she’d anticipated. “It’s not like it only happened to me, anyway. There were like, eight of us or somethin’.” She waved a hand as though it didn’t matter.

Sharon could tell that for whatever reasons she had, Shae didn't really want to speak on this matter.  She knew it wasn't because the other woman didn't trust her, so she didn't want to push too hard. Whatever reasons Shae had, they were her own. Sharon had been down that road before, all that was important now was that Shae knew she was here, and she didn't plan on gong anywhere. "You, drunk? Shocker." She tried the make the conversation lighter by throwing that in. "Well, no matter how many of you there were that got taken, you are here now. That's all that matters. If you ever need to talk about it, I'm here. And don't feed me a bullshit line of 'for now' because I honestly plan to stay. That is, if I can find an apartment to stay in." She had been residing in a hotel, and while she didn't mind, it was on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s tab anyways, she would like a place to actually go to relax. 

The thought that the FBI had assumed Wiley had killed one of their agents, unsettled Sharon. She knew how seriously they took matters and she could only imagine what they had done to Shae in the process before finding out she hadn't actually killed a man. Although, Sharon could tell that the brunette was being honest, she knew that if Wiley had actually killed him, there would be a good reason for it. 

That felt mean, but she wasn’t in any sort of mood. The fact that people felt like they could waltz in and out of her life without any regard for her feelings- that was just shitty. Betsy had slipped out of town just the week before while she was out, leaving just a note. Apparently Shae wasn’t even worth a phone call to the telepath. Flash was long gone as well, probably back to teaching or something in Philly. And now, with Tyler’s new position with S.H.I.E.L.D. he was slated to be at sea more than on land, and they’d see even less of each other. Not that she was unhappy about that. She knew how the ocean spoke to him like it was apart of him (maybe it was), and he was happier there, so she’d miss him while he was away and cherish the times they were together even more. She sat in silence for a minute, deciding whether or not to stay mad, and then gave another small quirk of her lips. “I mean, it’s not like you could stay away from me for very long,” she said with a sigh, fluttering her lashes as though being herself was some sort of hard burden to bear (it was, obviously). 

The news of Shae's abduction drew a sharp breath from Sharon. She wasn't angry at her friend, just angry that she wasn't able to be here when Shae might've needed her. "How in the hell did you manage to be abducted by aliens?" She didn't mean for it to come out in the tone it had, but the fact that S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn't contacted her while she was away to let her know of the situation, frustrated her. They might not like it, but they knew that Sharon and Shae were close. It was something she should have been informed about. "And why exactly were you detained by the FBI? And don't leave out any important details and try to skip over things. Don't try to brush me over with some nonsense about you are fine and it's over now."