Chapter 1: There Are No Strings On Me

"Ah, it's so good," I muttered sleepily, stretching out my limbs on my grandmother's couch. Releasing a yawn, I checked the time on my phone, finding it be nearly midnight. I yawned again before I stood, making my way to the bathroom in Granny's basement.

I picked up my backpack on the way, dragging it along lazily on my trek to brush my teeth. I stopped in front of the sink and leaned on it, fighting off yet another yawn. I looked up in the mirror and saw my red-rimmed eyes, and immediately my mind went back to the movie I'd just finished.

Avengers: Age of Ultron. Watched it again, for the eleventh time. I loved the film to death, but still could not accept Pietro Maximoff's death. I huffed, grabbing my toothbrush, sticking it under the water, applying toothpaste, and then proceeding to brush my teeth angrily.

"I mean," I said through toothpaste bubbles, "I get it. You have to have death, but that one could've been prevented, right?"

I was fully aware that I was alone, in my grandmother's basement, in the summer, having a Marvel movie marathon rather than spending it with friends. But that's just who I am, I thought, shrugging. I am Axelia Smith and I rant to myself and feel no shame!

Ah, I'm pathetic.

"He just didn't deserve it, you know? He just did not need that."

I spit into the sink and rinsed my mouth out with water, then took my corkscrew curls out of the messy bun they'd been in. I shook my fingers gently through the black locks, my own little version of brushing my hair. I sighed, walking back to the couch to gather my things, before walking to the bedroom along the left side wall.

I dumped my phone, charger, laptop, backpack, and hobo bag—as my aunt liked to call it—filled with every Marvel movie I owned onto the bedside table. I plopped down on the bed and just stared blankly at the wall.

My mind drifted back to the movie, thinking of all the things I would change. Natasha and Bruce? Really? No, none of that in my version. Pietro would live. That boy who's mom talked to Tony in the beginning of Civil War wouldn't have died. So many things would change, be better.

Gosh, I'm starting to sound like Ultron.

I was startled from my thoughts by the small clock next to my bed chiming, signaling the arrival of midnight. I grabbed my laptop and leaned back against the headboard. I clicked on Youtube, playing the song "I've Got No Strings"—the one that Ultron sang—before I opened up tumblr and searched for a tag concerning Marvel theories.

I had some of my own, of course, but I preferred reading others, giving my input when needed. I must've spent over an hour searching, for when I finally looked up it was because the clock was chiming, telling me that it was one o'clock.

I groaned into my hands. Why did I always do this? I pulled back the quilt laid out on the bed and slipped under it, not even bothering to shut off my laptop. What I'd been looking at last was a big conspiracy theory on the Infinity Stones. There was a description and evidence from movies for each one.

I was on the second to last one when I stopped; the Reality Stone. It's glowing red face stared at me as I lied down, but I was far too tired to care. I simply rolled over and faced the other direction, softly humming "I've Got No Strings" as I slowly started drifting towards unconsciousness.

One final thought ran through my brain before I fell asleep. How cool would it be to live with the Avengers?

xxxx

Once Axelia was asleep, the Reality Stone on her laptop screen started to glow dangerously. A small crack appeared on her screen and the device started to shake slightly, the fans on its bottom whirring faster. Another crack appeared on the laptop, then another, and another, all centered around the red stone in the middle. A single red beam broke through the screen, landing straight on Axelia's sleeping form.

More beams started to break through the glass, all scanning the room briefly before settling on the girl's spine. The laptop started shaking more, and soon, the room started to as well. Everything was rattling, but it was contained inside the room; the old woman slumbering upstairs never felt a thing.

Magic truly was a strange thing.

The Reality Stone started to shine brighter and stronger. There was a wave of power sent through the laptop, slamming into Axelia, and the room was filled with blinding light. Then it was dark. Nothing could be seen, especially Axelia, since she wasn't there at all. All that was left was a laptop that looked as though it'd just took a nap in an oven and the faint scent of something burning in the air.

xxxx

I groaned as I slowly succumbed to consciousness. All I felt was pain, a dull ache in, well… everywhere. Through my pain-induced haze, I could faintly hear a robotic, muffled voice—James Spader's voice?—singing softly.

I've got no strings,

So I am free.

There are no strings on me.

AN: hello peeps! Thank you so much for reading! This is the first story I've published, so I'm a little nervous. Anyway, I know there's plot holes and grammar mistakes in there somewhere, but this is just a cool idea I'd had months while watching Age of Ultron, and I decided to bring it to life! For me, this story is just for fun, so please don't be too mean! Please leave a review and tell me if you liked it and if I should continue!

Thank you!!!