But I will hold on hope, And I won't let you choke, On the noose around your neck, And I'll find strength in pain, And I will change my ways, I'll know my name as it's called again... - The Cave, Mumford and Sons


Chapter Twenty Seven

Freedom

In a matter of millicycles Mira and Beck had explained what happened. From their first day in the User world to the fights against Cyrus. Then to the final battle against Pavel, who was finally gone for good. In a way Mira was relieved by this, but she still felt uneasy thinking about it.

Pavel might have actually been a good program at one point, she thought guiltily.

Tron leaned forward as they sat upstairs in seats he'd pulled out. Mira wondered if he managed to recover the ability to manipulate codes around him since he'd fought Clu's repurposing. Either way, it was good to see him again the more she thought about it.

"So Pavel managed to reach the User world," Tron muttered thoughtfully. Clint sat beside Natasha; Mira had a feeling they were still trying to grasp the fact that Tron was real. "I was aware of Clu's plan, but I couldn't do anything to stop it at the time," he explained after locking gazes with Mira. "It's good to know there are Users who can fight back."

"He won't be causing any more problems," Clint retorted.

Mira held back a sigh of relief when Tron didn't bother asking why. She knew he had derezzed programs before. Being a security program meant he had to take those risks. But since he had trained Beck, he didn't derezz. Not until Clu repurposed him.

"What about Cyrus?" Tron glanced at Natasha and Clint. Both shrugged in response before Natasha straightened up a little.

"Cyrus is being held in one of SHIELD's most secure prisons," she explained. "He won't be getting out any time soon."

Tron gave them a doubtful look and shook his head. "Cyrus isn't one to give up so easily," he said under his breath. "You will need to keep an eye on him."

"We should uh, probably go." Mira blinked in surprise when Clint suddenly stood up, followed shortly by Natasha. "We'll give you two some alone time." Mira rolled her eyes when she noticed that he was looking back at Tron, almost in annoyance. Tron only folded his arms and looked back as though he didn't notice.

Once they were gone, the lights in the room flickered on. Tron stood up and glanced down at Mira and Beck, who were both still sitting as they tried to figure out what was going on.

"Now why don't you tell me what really happened," Tron suggested after pulling up the computer that overlooked the Outlands.

Mira tried not to let her face falter when she realized that Tron was fully aware of what Natasha and Clint had been up to. She finally stood up as well to join him, arms on her hips as she studied the screen carefully.

"What do you mean?" she asked as innocently as she could.

"Those two aren't normal Users, are they?" Tron countered her question with a question.

She looked at Beck sheepishly as he joined them shortly after. He was grinning like an idiot as he waited for her answer.

"They're kind of... my parents," she sighed after looking out the window once more. It still felt strange knowing that the two master assassins were her parents. It just didn't seem right.

Tron's eyes lit up with understanding when he realized what that meant. "You found your family," he muttered.

"Sort of." Mira didn't miss the look of sympathy Beck gave her. Explaining it to Quorra had been difficult enough. Sharing the news with Tron was another story. He probably didn't even know that SHIELD had files on him and Clu. "They're also SHIELD agents," she added as an awkward silence filled the room.

If Tron hadn't been standing, Mira was pretty sure he would've fallen over on the chair. His eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the name. It took her a few nanocycles to remember that Sam and Quorra had stopped by earlier to check on things. Maybe they had warned the programs of what SHIELD was up to.

"They're spies," Tron grumbled after turning off the screen.

She winced at the term and looked away. How would he feel if he knew she was joining them?

"Not exactly," she whispered. "So what happens next?" she asked.

"We have to restore the cities to their former glory," Tron explained. He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at Beck, who had his arms folded as he listened. "Beck, I will still need your help... and possibly a new team to work throughout the Grid."

"I'm in," Beck replied with a shrug.

By now Mira almost wished a hole would open up and swallow her. Tron was looking at her now. And she would have to explain that she wasn't joining him. One way or another he would find out the truth. It was probably better to tell him now than let Beck explain what was happening.

"I won't be much help once this is over," she sighed. Tron raised an eyebrow as she quickly explained what would happen next in her life, "I decided to join SHIELD, to keep an eye on Cyrus from the User world."

"I can understand why you would want to stay," Tron said after patting her on the shoulder. Mira looked at him in disbelief. She noticed there was the slightest of grins on his face as he walked away. "You spent most of your life on the Grid... it's time you returned to your family."

Mira felt her shoulders sag as she thought of everything that had happened. It's not like she wanted to spend quality time with them. They had their own problems to deal with after all. But part of her wanted to know what it was like, to understand why they were the way they were.

"Thank you for understanding." Tron staggered back in surprise as she hugged him. "And for taking me in when no one else would."

She wasn't sure where she would be if it wasn't for Tron. He had saved her in more ways than one. After pulling back, she finally turned to face Beck. His expression was almost impossible to read. And for once, Mira was thankful for that. Normally Beck's emotions were easy to read during situations like this.

Without warning he pulled her towards him in a warm embrace. The room around them suddenly felt smaller as he kissed her again. Mira felt heat rising to her cheeks again as she welcomed the kiss. She didn't even think about the fact that Tron was watching them.

"Was that your attempt as saying goodbye?" Mira had to laugh when it ended all too soon.

"You could say that," Beck replied sheepishly. "Look, I'll miss you," he added after rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "More than anything else."

"I'll miss you too, bitbrain," she murmured. She barely noticed the tears that formed as she looked at him one last time. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid while I'm gone?" She didn't miss the laughter in Beck's eyes when he understood what she meant by that.

"I promise," he replied.

Mira couldn't help but grin as she wiped away the tears. "Good," she whispered.

"I'll see you soon," he added after kissing her on the forehead.

"Take care of him Tron," she said before reaching the door. Tron looked like he was ready to burst with laughter after watching the whole scene. Mira didn't even think it was possible for him to laugh. But seeing him now, she was thankful she was around to watch him.

"Don't worry about us." Tron finally caught his breath after struggling to not laugh.

I don't think I have to now, Mira thought as she reached the open door. She was going to miss the Grid. But most of all, she was going to miss Beck and Tron. They were more like family than anything else. And she would do anything in her power to keep them safe.

. . .

"Got everything ready?" Mira held the bags she was taking and nodded. Steve and Bruce were already packed up for where ever they were going.

The apartment she had chosen wasn't far from Steve's. It was close to the gym and close to the Hub. Once she was finished unpacking she would need to fill out yet more paperwork, something she wasn't looking forward to.

"Clint's already waiting down below," Natasha explained after everything was said and done. Rinzler was perched on Mira's shoulder as Natasha helped her by taking a bag. Mira had to laugh as Rinzler tried sniffing Natasha's arm.

"You really are more trouble than you're worth," she whispered as she followed Natasha to the elevator.

"I wouldn't say that too loud," Natasha warned her with the slightest of smirks. "Tony's already offered to take him off your hands as an experiment."

Mira rolled her eyes as she imagined what Tony had in mind for poor Rinzler. She had a feeling that he wanted to find out exactly how Rinzler came to be in the first place. In a way Rinzler was almost like an ISO. But she had created him from the codes she found on her disk.

Maybe being a User has something to do with it, she thought as they reached the car.

Like Natasha had said, Clint was already waiting for them in the car. Mira held back a sigh as she threw her bags onto the seat.

She was thankful she had grabbed her iPod while they headed for the building that was to become her future home. Listening to music was one way to take her mind off of what was about to happen. And she didn't want to think about it at the moment.

"Now I'll be bold, As well as strong, And use my head alongside my heart, So tame my flesh, And fix my eyes, A tethered mind freed from the lies..."

The Grid was free from Clu's reign. The world was free from Cyrus's terror for the time being. And for once, she was free from any curfew that hung over her head.

"And I'll kneel down, Wait for now, I'll kneel down, Know my ground, Raise my hands, Paint my spirit gold, And bow my head, Keep my heart slow, 'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you..."

Mira closed her eyes and realized for the first time that she and Beck had found their way to freedom. And nothing could ever break them apart, even if they were from different worlds. Because the Grid was what had brought them together in the first place.


AN: So this story was finished in less than a month. That just goes to show how much more into the story I was XD But, on a side note, I have started the first chapter for Promise, which is the ten-part sequel I may not have mentioned earlier. It will actually have a tie in with Agents of SHIELD (TV show for those who don't know), and hopefully it will be just as good. Big thanks to 2theSky, PrincessKai317, Briannajs-22 and Sunofaia for reviewing! You guys are amazing, and have been great reviewers!

Lyrics came from the awesome song I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons. Haven't heard it? Then go and check it out! :P Highly recommended.

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