Part the First: No More Fear
One ~ The Place We Used To Dwell
Daria ~ 16 ~ Black and Blue
I've always known I was different. Growing up in a top-secret military base will give you that impression. My parents: dead. I hardly knew them. And with the way everyone else around here talks about them, they were nice. Good people. Not like me.
I know no one likes me. They don't even try to hide it. Not even Fury, who has to pretend to like me, really does. He's given himself the task of raising me - and what a chore it must be.
I'm the youngest person here - at sixteen, everyone else is years older. In their twenties, at least. But lately, I've heard Fury talking about some boy he wants to get in here. Apparently this kid's special - some kind of unusual power. I know that weird and inhuman is SHIELD's specialty, but who're they expecting, Superman?
I've been banned from the landing pad today, which means I'm going to sneak up there and find out what's going on. Honestly, all these smart people, you'd think theyd've figured out by now that if they forbid me to do something, I. Am. Going. To. Do. It.
So I make my way up the back stairway (smartest people in the world, and they don't lock the back stairway). They're dark and cramped, but I've used them enough times. I step out onto the roof and hide behind a smokestack. I can already see the chopper coming in from the east. I have a good view of the landing pad and the welcome party. I'll be able to see everything.
The chopper hovers above the building for a moment before landing, the whirring of the blades making it impossible to speak - not that I'd be talking to anyone. Through the glass of the cockpit, I catch a glimpse of dark hair.
Logan ~ Black and Silver
The helicopter's blades are so loud I can't hear myself think - and I like thinking. My sister says I think too much. I tell her she's immature. That shuts her up.
I look out onto the rooftop below. A big red landing pad, a bunch of scattered smokestacks and chimneys. And a group of people, led by a big black man. I roll my eyes. Americans. They make me laugh. They think they're so intimidating, with their drama and darkness.
I sweep my eyes across the rooftop, not really looking for anything, just needing something to focus my roaming eyes on. And I see, behind a smokestack, a curly blonde head with eyes looking up at me. And then we start going down.
Black and Blue
The chopper lands with a whir of motion. Even from where I stand, the wind the blades create stirs my hair into a frenzy. I scowl and struggle to keep my curls tame, to no avail. By the time the chopper blades have stilled and I've gotten my hair back under control, everyone has exited the aircraft. A pilot stands back by the helicopter while a group of three approaches Fury and his passe: a tall blonde woman in a super-starched navy suit, a short bald man, and a dark-haired boy about my age. His dark brown hair falls into his eyes, which I can't see because he's looking away from me. He's wearing black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt.
The group connects with Fury's and there is a moment of conversation. I'm preparing to leave when I hear my name: "Daria. I know you're back there."
Black and Silver
This is ridiculous. They're trying to make this into some kind of scene from a spy movie, aren't they? I've seen a lot of them, Petra loves spy movies.
The black man wears an eyepatch. Just this is enough to make me laugh. And to make it better, everyone is wearing black jumpsuits! So cool! Not. Someone needs to fire the wardrobe guy. Eyepatch Man sticks out his hand. "Director Fury." he says.
I drill him with a stony stare. "No, my name's Logan." I ignore his hand.
He stares at me blandly. "It's called an introduction, Mr. Lewis. I suggest you get used to it." He turns to the agents behind me. "Good work, Agent Mahoony, Agent Edgeton."
I think we're about to go inside, but Eyepatch Man calls out, "Daria. I know you're back there." He must be talking to the blonde I saw earlier. I spin and look back at the smokestack as a slim girl steps out from behind it. Her blonde curls frame a rather pale face, large blue eyes staring back at me. She wears a simple black dress, form-fitting on top, flared out at the hips. She's quite pretty, actually, in an alluring yet dainty way. She approaches silently and warily, as if she doesn't trust Eypatch Man and his friends. I don't blame her. I don't trust these clowns either.
Black and Blue
His eyes are silver. Silver. I've seen plenty of weird things, but I've never seen silver eyes. I do my best to look unimpressed.
I know everyone's looking at me. It always happens. Ever since I turned thirteen, I've gotten stares everywhere I go. And I know how to put it to good use. Fury doesn't trust me, but he sues me to fool his enemies. One look, one gentle touch, one whispered word, and these men are putty in my hands, ready to tell me anything. Just the way I like it.
Now, seeing how I'm being watched, I smile coyly and move my hips slightly as I walk, making the folds of my dress ripple attractively over my legs. Fury's never approved of the way I dress. He says it's too "sexy and impractical for a girl of sixteen". But he sure doesn't object when I'm using my skills to help him. I can feel the boy's eyes on me, but I focus my gaze on Fury. My eyes are one of my best weapons, I know. They're icy blue and can intimidate and allure at the same time.
I stop a good three or four feet away from the group and finally turn my eyes to this silver-eyed Superman they've brought. His face hides all emotion, but his metallic eyes betray a fascination with me I've grown accustomed to. But, lurking deeper in his eyes is an emotion I've never seen before; something burning and consuming. I look away, unable to look into those silver orbs any longer.
I focus back on Fury, trying to erase the memory of those eyes from my mind. I cross my arms over my chest and give the Director my best glare, one that makes the most hardened men tremble. Fury merely stares back.
All is silent for several minutes, then I say, "How did you know I was there?" My voice bites, edged with coldness.
Fury refuses to answer. "Daria, I'd like you to meet Seth Lewis."
"It's Logan." Mr. Silver Eyes says. "I hate 'Seth.'"
I look at him, refusing to give him more than a disinterested glance. "Daria Williams." I say, on emotion in my voice, "I could say that I'm pleased to meet you, but I'd be lying."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see "Logan" smirk. "At least you're honest." I detect a British accent in his voice.
"That can't be said for many around here." I interject, glaring at Fury again. With a toss of my head, I stalk inside.
And the rest of the day, I can't get the expression in those silver eyes out of my mind.
I've decided to update this! I realized that this story was becoming way too long, so it will be divided into two parts, possibly three. This chapter is basically the same as before, just, you know, updated. With an actual chapter title! The same rules for POV changes aply, I will note whose POV(s) the chapter is told from at the beginning of each from now on.
The title for Part One is taken from the song "Faster" by Within Temptation. Chapter One title taken from "Driving Nails" by Demon Hunter.
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