When We Lie

The door opens to a middle-aged woman looking at you in surprise. It's currently 6PM in Sweden and they obviously didn't expect visitors. Her eyebrows almost disappear into her hairline when she recognises you. "Aren't you... You're that new Avenger! Oxygen, right?"

You've always hated the superhero name the Americans gave you. You grimace. "Yep, that's me," you reply in Swedish.

"What is an Avenger doing here?" She pauses. "Oh, uh, do you want to, uh... Do you want to come inside?"

"Yes please."

The house is not exactly modern, but not really outdated, either. If you remember correctly, it was built in 2002.

The woman, Fanny, takes you to the living room and asks you to sit down. While you do, she goes to get her husband, Tobias.

How you wish you had Loki with you. Or at least Bucky. Or Emma. You should have done this earlier. Damn.

Fanny comes back with Tobias on tow, a frown on his face. You stop everything you do to look at them together. You have his hair colour, his jawline and his nose, but her cheeks, her forehead and her eye shape. How did they never realise you're a perfect blend of the two of them?

Because they were never looking, you answer yourself. You stand up and offer Tobias your hand. "Good evening, Tobias," you greet him.

"Good— Good evening." He sits down with Fanny by his side. "So, what exactly are you doing here?"

"Vacation, sort of." They both frown. "I'm the one you've been in contact with regarding your, eh, your child."

They're both dead quiet. For a moment, the silence is the loudest sound you've ever heard. Then Fanny tears up and sobs. Tobias puts a shaking arm around her and lets her cry in his embrace. He hasn't stopped looking at you. "What?" he says weakly.

"Yes, I've... I've been in contact with your biological child."

"How?"

You stop yourself from snorting, but you can't quell the urge to smile in sadness. "Because you're looking at it. Surprise."

Commotion. Fanny lets out a hysterical scream and keeps crying. Tobias is now looking at you with a new light. Searching for a resemblance. And he sees it. "No," he says. "It can't be... Are you sure?"

You hand him the DNA files and family trees. "I found you when I was fifteen. I'm the anonymous donor, as well."

"You donate all that money?"

"Yes. I have more than enough. I... I wanted to make sure you were doing all right."

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Fanny whispers, finally composing herself somewhat. "We were worried about you!"

You glance at their fireplace. "There wasn't really a need," you say, deciding to be completely honest. "I already had a foster family here. You had Dorotea. And with my line of work, it was for the best to keep the truth hidden, for your safety's sake." They nod in understanding.

"And your foster parents, they... they've been—good?" Fanny asks hesitantly.

"Yes. They love me like their own child."

"But who took you? Why switch babies?" Tobias asks suspiciously.

You wince. "It wouldn't do you any good to know," you assure him. "And they're still out there, looking for me."

"Please," they beg. "No more secrets."

They don't have the right to say that since they're strangers, but you already decided to be 100% honest, so you let it slide. "Ever heard of HYDRA?"