Gorgeous Nightmare Ch 1

I was five when I discovered that I could control time. Well, more specifically, I discovered that I could speed it up first. I later found out that I can also slow it down and even time travel. It took a while before I learned how to do that stuff on command, though. I also have a perfect memory, which I believe goes with the territory of controlling time. I even remember being born and what my biological mother looked like, even though I was only a baby and it was for just a few minutes. What I mean by all this is that I am different. And different means that I just got an invite to join the Avengers. Today is the day I move to Stark Tower, where the Avengers live.

"Emma…please call us every day! We're going to miss you!" One of my fathers, Jason, said as he hugged me in a death grip. I have a gay couple as my adoptive parents, and I also have an adopted younger sister named Ashlyn. Honestly, I was happy to move out and live a life of my own – I would have a whole floor of Stark Tower to myself.

"Well, if it isn't the newbie," I heard Tony Stark's sarcastic tone reach my ears. I looked over to see him swaggering out of Stark Tower, named after him.

"I do have a name," I replied. "It's Emma." Stark nodded. He was studying me.

"Yeah, I know. You sure you can fight alongside us? You're scrawny and don't wear armor, right?" Stark said. I glared at him.

"My power doesn't lie in my strength," I snapped.

"I hope not or you're no help at all," Stark said. I saw Captain Steve Rodgers and Thor walk out of the building.

"What's all the commotion?" Steve asked.

"This is Emma. The newest Avenger," Stark introduced.

"What can you do?" Steve asked, studying me like Stark did.

"I can control time and along with it I have a perfect memory," I replied, running a hand through my light brown hair. "Now, I'd like to get all my stuff inside so I can relax." Thor, Steve, and Stark picked up most of my boxes and headed inside with them.

"You can go now, Dad. I'm all set," I told Jason. Corey, who I called Daddy, was in the car.

"Let's go, honey! We have things to do and it's not like she's gone forever!" Daddy said. Dad gave me one more hug and kissed me on the cheek.

"Bye, Emma. Be safe and don't get hurt!" Dad said before getting in the car. They drove away and I stared up at the massive Stark Tower. It was nothing like the two family house I lived in previously. I picked up the last two boxes and headed inside. I rode the elevator up to the tenth floor. I walked out onto the penthouse-sized floor and my jaw dropped. Everything was super ultra-modern and really sheek. I loved it!

"I'm guessing you like it," Stark said, smirking. Steve and Thor laughed. I blushed and closed my mouth.

"Y-yeah. It's incredible," I said. The wall opposite the elevator was all windows.

"You can unpack later. We're having dinner on Stark's floor tonight," Thor said in his really deep voice. "We rotate whose floor we have dinner on every night." I nodded and headed into the elevator with all three men. We arrived on Stark's floor and the doors opened to reveal Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Dr. Bruce Banners, and a girl I didn't know who had mousey brown hair and somewhat dirty clothes on sitting at a long table. A chick with strawberry blonde hair was placing food on the table. I knew that was Pepper Potts, Stark's girl. I sat down at the table in between the girl I didn't know and Steve.

"Hi, I'm Jane Foster," the girl said, "you must be the new Avenger Thor's been talking about." I shook her hand and nodded. Thor sat down next to Jane.

"Yeah. My name's Emma," I told her. "And who are you exactly?"

"Oh, I'm Thor's girlfriend," Jane told me, "So what's your power?"

"I can control time," I said quickly, stuffing food in my mouth so I wouldn't have to answer any follow-up questions.

"Really? That's so awesome!" Jane said. I snorted and continued eating.

"I didn't know that was your power," Bruce said.

"Yesh it ish," I said through a mouthful of food. I wasn't the type of person who liked all attention on me. It made me nervous.

"Like you can time travel?" Thor said. I nodded.

"Yes, I can time travel. I can also speed it up and slow it down. Now please let me eat," I said. It was silent for only a few minutes until somebody had to open their mouth.

"Your friends and family must be so happy for you," Jane said. No. I would not allow those memories to be dredged up.

"And why would they? My powers don't help them. They're sometimes more of a curse," I said quietly.

"What do you mean by that?" Barton asked.

"I'd rather not talk about it," I snipped.

"Please tell us," Natasha said. My hands clenched into fists.

"I don't want to. Please leave me alone it's been a long day," I said, "and my powers are somewhat of a curse but I don't want to discuss that now."

"I know what she means. Let's talk about something else if she feels uncomfortable," Bruce said. I mouthed Thank you to him. I wasn't ready to discuss my past – I had tried so hard to block it out and I would not let it come to the surface until I was good and ready to discuss it with someone. I barely knew everyone here, and I didn't like people I didn't know very well knowing everything about me. It would make me feel vulnerable and exposed and I preferred to hide myself behind a wall that not just anyone could get through. Letting anyone in was always too painful. I finished my dinner and headed into the elevator without saying another word to anyone.


Loki watched the young female Avenger as she talked with Tony Stark. He had heard precious little about her, except that she was the youngest Avenger at only eighteen years old and she could control time. Loki smirked – that was a powerful gift to have, especially if he could have it on his side and not working against him. He wanted her on his side – he knew it would help him greatly, to have someone as powerful as him standing by him. But since he had lost his scepter that could bring people to his side, he knew he would have to be a lot cleverer to get Emma. Loki made the projection of himself that he used to watch Emma disappear. Loki relaxed in his hideout and began plotting how to trick Emma into joining him. Just maybe I can win this time, Loki thought, then people will actually respect me and think of me as better than pathetic Thor.