The dark eyes of that man keep staring at me from the rearview mirror and i, as a result, hold my arms more and more around my chest and sink even more into the backseat of that damned car, feeling an increased sense of unease.

I'd like to look out of the window at least, but they're tinted and, so, the only thing that i can do is to address my gaze towards the seat next to me, since i don't have any intention to meet again the agent's one.

How said he is called... ? Oh, right, now i remember.

« Agent Coulson you should maintain your eye on the road, rather than me. » I reproach him then, having shifted my attention on the biker boots that i'm wearing.

« I'm sorry, Miss Blacksmith, i didn't want to disturb you. I just have to tell you that we're doing all this for your safety. »

« It's hard to believe this, actually. It, on the contrary, gives me the impression that i kinda rained on your parade and now you have to dump me somewhere. Or am i wrong? Nonethless, why is it so necessary and you can't let me go? »

The agent hints a sliced smile and says back: « You are a vulnerable element, i've already told you. Since you haven't another safe place, far from here, where you can go, for us in the S.H.I.E.L.D. it's now a responsability to keep you away from potential threats. »

Potential threats. Which should they be, anyway, these phantom threats? It's really fantastic. Basically, they want to use this pretext to lock me away somewhere, God only knows why; from the moment i didn't do anything to deserve this treatment and, obviously, i didn't have any clue of their agency.

« For the last time, you don't have any intention to tell me why you took me away from my home and gave me notice to not come back there, right? » I urge him.

« You took the hint, Miss Blacksmith. They're classified informations. You have to trust me, anyway, you'll be fine. » And along with these words, Coulson tries what should be, i suppose, a reassuring smile from the rearwiew mirror.

Yeah, sure. After what he put me through today, it won't be so easy for me to trust him.

If i think how the day begun...

Knowing that, like in the last weeks, i wouldn't have had any particular commitment for today, i already had the intention to sleep a little more... right? Wrong.

Still enveloped in the blankets, i had the impression to hear some noises from the the floor below, a kind of hustle- bustle that wasn't excusable in any way for my part.

I was alone in the house, since my mother left for a psycoanalyst conference i had no idea where for four days already, and i have no brothers o sisters, so i immediately felt on alert.

Carrefully, i got up from the bed and opened the door of my bedroom; actually, i didn't have a good wiew from that position, since i had in front of me just the corridor that linked the other rooms of the superior floor, where i was.

So, i decided to get closer to the stairs without making a sound, still in my pj's , to finally undestand what was going on.

What i was able to see where some men in black suit that were searching everywhere while talking among them.

What they wanted?! I turned istantly around the corner and placed a hand over my face.

They didn't look like robbers or ordinary criminals, but i really couldn't get what they could want or who they could be.

« I'm going to check upstairs.» I heard one say at one time.

What could i do?! I had to hide. But i didn't make to reach the bathroom, that the man already got up the stairs.

He couldn't deny his surprised expression in seeing me and, so, he exclaimed:

« Who are you? What are doing here ? »

« Actually, i should be doing this question, this is my house! » I said back, angered.

The man frowned his forehead and urged me:

« Are you the daughter of Penelope Blacksmith? Because from our records you should reside at a different address... »

« Well, i came back for a while. But, anyway, this is none of your business. What do you mean with our records?! And what has my mother to do with this? »

« Do you know where she is at the moment? » He replied to my question with another one.

« At a psicanalyst conference i don't know where. Why am i the only one to answer? »;

« I'm sorry, Miss Blacksmith. I'm the agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. , we didn't want to break in this way, but we weren't aware of your presence here. »

S.H.I.E.L.D. ...? What the hell is he talking about?

« Do you have another safe place where you can go, far from here...? »

His question catched me off-guard . I didn't know what to answer since i didn't think i had one.

The simple fact that i quit college, coming back here wasn't so pleasing for the friction this has created precisely with my mother.

« Well, no. »

« So, we will look after you. »

The famous last words. This was just few hours ago in New Jersey and, now, i find myself whizz on the New York City streets get sodden from the pouring rain.

« We are almost at the destination, Miss Blacksmith; you'll see, everything will be alright. I can imagine what can imply for you handle this abrupt shake up of your life, since your presence there was an unplanned event also for us, but you won't have to deal with this situation for long.

Just until we will have estabilished that you won't take any risks. »

I nod unconvinced, while i'm still enveloped in my arms, giving him them a sideways glance, checking he's not doing the same.

I know that's not so nice as a thing, but i can't avoid the thought the i'd really like to hurt him right now.

I can imagine what can imply for you handle this abrupt shake up of your life... You can't imagine anything, cabbage head...! I had, finally, few days that i could i have my peace, without the persisent remarks of my mother that worries for my future and reproach me, in a subtle way, how much was an irresponsable act from me to abandon the university in the middle of the the first year of graduate school... And now...

Well, maybe now i'll have the occasion to ponder what really want to do with my life. Assuming that i'll gain newly my freedom, since we're at this level.

I lean on the backrest of the seat and sigh heavily. But then, why he asked if knew where my mother was? What has she to do with them ...?

Suddenly i feel the car stopping; i can't tell where we can be, always because of the tinted windows, i just hear the heavy rain on the car body.

The agent Coulson, after have parked, step off the vehicle, taking with him a little black umbrella pulled out from the glove compartment.

After have opened the door, he exclaims: « Here we are, Miss Blacksmith. Don't worry, i'll shelter you from the rain. »

For the first time, my hazel eyes lay on the agent and, i admit, i feel a little vulnerable; i really would try to entrust him and i hope that he choose the place for this enforced stay with a little method; sure, according to his judgement, that i can't trust this much for my experience, actually...

I grab his left hand that helps me to climb down from the black town car and, while i lay my feet on the sodden street, i take the chance to look up towards the impressing building we have in front of us, beyond the silhoutte of the umbrella; i reach in a moment its top where i can distinguish the « A » letter that outweights, nonethless the pouring rain that wraps it.

« You got it right, we are exactly at the Avengers Tower. » The agent exclaims, like reading my thoughts, while i'm still staring at the skyscraper in disbelief.

If somebody had told me, even just a couple of days ago, that would find myself in this situation i would never believe it.

And i suppose it's just what you always think when you experience something really unexpected.

It's just that, after the initial surprise, the amazment is starting to give newly way to the hundred questions tha are coming back on my mind, like wondering what where doing really those agents into my house and, subsequently, why my presence resulted so inconvenient, so much to lock me up there.

Not a ordinary place and i genuinely don't have a clue of what will become of me from now on.

« Come on, it's better if we enter now. »

And along with these words, the agent put a hand behind my back inviting me to move towards the entrance, where a big-boned security guard greets Coulson and let us step in.

After putting the umbrella in the related umbrella stand on the side, the agent, though, look out the building again to tell something to the guard at the entrance and, then, this last one follows him inside and both get closer at me.

« Stay here with Happy while i go upstairs to talk with Stark of your situation.»

With another sliced smile he moves quickly towards the elevators. What do he thinks that i could attempt to run away without anyone looking over me ?! Well, i cannot rule it out.

But he left me with this big man and nip in the bud any possible initiative of mine, though.

I mean, are we joking ?! Now he's going to talk with Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, of my situation ? For real ? This is unbelievable.

I cross the arms around my chest, enveloping more in my parka. I'm not a criminal. Still, all this gives me exactly that impression. I can't shake off this ongoing feeling of uneasiness and, not for being pessimist, but i'm sure that this won't lead to anything good.

I'm starting to think that would be much better if i stayed at college, instead of making the wild pich to come back home, my home, where i thought i'd have the time to figure out which path i'd really want to follow.

What an absurd situation.

I feel like a stored package with which no one knows what to do. Suddenly a thunder catches me off guard and makes jump, diverting me from my thoughts.

I sigh heavily and give a sideways glance at the guard next to me; he keeps his arms crossed in his turn, with the look right in front of him, sheltered by the sunglasses.

He doesn't have to worry, i have absolutely no intention to be familiar with him. But, then, my attention is captured by the opening of the doors of one of the elevators at the end of the enourmous hall and i can see stepping out none other than Tony Stark followed by the Agent Coulson.

I notice him looking in my direction and then again towards Coulson, while they keep talking.

Are they talking about me ? Of my situation ? How far he exposed himself explaining the thing... ? I have no idea if they're friends or not... They're just collegues ? So to speak. It depends also on what i represent, a favor, an urgency, a necessity... ?

Abruply, Stark spread his arms and, then, puts the right hand on the chin, stroking his beard.

At last, i see him nod and move towards me, wrapped in his expensive gray suit.

I think, cinically, that now he can find out if i meet his standards; moreover i waltzed here like this in his house and if there's something i have to make clear straight away it's that neither do i'm enthusiastic of this accomodation that was so higlhy recommended.

« Here we are. I'm Tony Stark and, as agreed with friend Agent here that, by the way, looks so good for being back from Land of the Dead, you can remain here as long as necessary. »

Exclaim the billionaire, then, clap his palm togheter, holding them and pointing the index towards me.

« Given that must like this... And i seem, to my regret, got in the way in some kind of top secret investigation that does not include my freedom, because of some last-minute consideration... It's obvious that i have no other choice. »

I say back, critical, still tight in my pistachio green parka.

« Wow, your arrival is exactly what we need, in addition to a day like this, Little Miss Sunshine... ! » It's Iron Man prompt reply.

Ok, maybe now i realize that very likely here they have much more problematic isssues than what i could represent, so, i have to admit that Stark must have made, anyway, an effort to face this kind of emergency.

« I think that i overreacted, i'm sorry. But you have to have to realize that i didn't expect to end up here, without a proper explanation... »

So, i take the opportunity and turn to Coulson:

« Before you leave, you can't drop me here without hardly telling me why you wanted to know about my mother and if i knew where she was... You can't deny that if there wouldn't be a good reason, you would never asked me that question and, subsequently, i would never meet you. »

The agent sighs, like resigned, and then he says:

« Indeed, Miss Blacksmith, but it's a rather sensitive subject and in your best interest, for now, i'd prefer to not upset you any further, since what you already have been through. »

« This means that my mother is implied in something strange, basically... ? That she won't come back? And i need to move anyway... »

Even if, obviously, i can't read a justifiable picture in all this. Still, i realize that's a nonreversible process. I put both hands on my face, shocked.

« Goodbye, Miss Blacksmith, we will meet again only when i can guarantee your safety. »

Along with these words, the agent grabs his umbrella where he put it and step out the cloudburst again.

« Come on, Little Miss Sunshine, let's go upstairs. » Stark says, inviting me to follow him.

To Be Continued...