They first realized something was wrong when Jarvis didn't respond.
They had been having a team bonding night. A time to "further our knowledge of each other," as Steve put it; basically, they watched Star Wars and had popcorn battles.
They had asked Jarvis to turn the lights on. When nothing happened Tony got up and flipped the switch. Still nothing.
"Jarvis?" he called. Everyone got quiet when there was no response. "Jarvis?"
Again, nothing.
"I'm afraid he won't be available for a while." A low, feminine voice cut through the darkness.
"Who are you? Identify yourself." Steve commanded in his 'Captain America' voice.
"My name is Tessa." A young woman stepped into the light of the television, "hello, Thor." She nodded to the burley blonde. The Asgardian looked terrified.
"Who have you come for?" Thor asked, stepping forward.
"Aren't you going to tell them what I am?" Tessa asked gesturing to the rest of the avengers.
Thor gulped.
"I'm a reaper." Tessa began, "Death has sent me to kill one of you. I thought I would come during one of your battles, but Death sent me now. But I don't think I can kill my intended human; my powers don't appear to be working on them."
"Who?" the question was from Steve this time.
"I've come for the broken one."
"Honey, that describes all of us to some extent." Stark retorted.
"I come for the one so broken and scarred no one even notices anymore. Yes, you all have been broken; and all but one of you has been put back together. I come for the one shattered beyond repair."
"No one can be beyond help." Steve contradicted adamantly.
"I'm afraid they can."
"How?" Steve demanded.
"If you start chipping away when they are young, and keep chipping, even the hardest rock will break."
"What do you mean?" Bruce asked.
"Start them off with a terrible childhood. An angry, drunken father that you can never please. A distant careless mother who won't even acknowledge your existence. If you grow up hated by family and peers. And it didn't change. Even when he defied every odd; when he proved his worth people hate him. He gave people everything and they threw it back in his face. I see inside him even now. The loneliness, the shame, the hatred, the feeling that nothing he does will ever be enough. But by simply looking at him you would never guess. He believes himself a monster; he has invited death to himself many times."
"What does that mean?" Barton interrupted.
"He wanted to die and took measures to get there." Tessa stated solemnly.
"None of us would eve-" Steve began
"Not all are as innocent as you." Tessa's voice cut him off like a whip. "Definitely not the one I came for. The man who hides everything. Who smiles as he fights a battle he cannot win; and he knows it." she stopped and dropped her chin to her chest. " I guess I'll take my leave now." She turned to go.
"I thought you said you were here to kill one of us?" Tony asked.
"Oh, you've known all along; haven't you? You know who I came for. My powers don't work on the soul I was sent to collect."
"How's that possible?" Tony inquired.
"Don't you see? I can't kill you Tony, because inside you're already dead."
A/N: don't know if I should continue…. Review!