From the Building Block 1:
« 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.
I'm going to follow his suggestion, when remember that i took some change of clothes with me, so i turn my direction and run outside too, pulling up the hood of my parka and hoping that Coulson hasn't already left.
Luckily, he's still there, so i say:
« I left my suitcase in the in the trunk, i was forgetting to take it... ! »
The agent sees me and climb off the town car, heading towards the back of the car, opening the luggage compartment.
« Here you are. » He exclaims, after have grabbed my glittered black suitcase, not paying attention at the pouring rain that's flooding over him, since he didn't take with him the umbrella.
Well, this was decisely nice from him, he instantly thought to grant my request, without considering to shelter himself from this downpour.
« Well, thank you. Even if i could wait some little more for you to take your umbrella, it didn't cost anything to me. »
« It just water. Now it's better if you think to come back inside, otherwise you'll catch a cold. »
On the other hand, i'm not the one who's standing in the rain, since i stopped just below the shed; anayway, i wave to him and then come back into the Avengers Tower.
Avengers Tower... It's still weird to accept the thing. Well, obviously i'd say.
« Where did you go? I turned and you were vanished! » Stark barks me, then, when he sees me return.
« I went to take my suitcase, i was forgetting it in Coulson's car. »
He makes a face and, so, he turns again towards the elevators. I sigh, pulling down the hood, and follow him.
After stepping in the restricted space of one of the automatic cubicles, i place my suitcase next to me and then lay on the wall, near to the buttons panel.
Stark presses one and, then, he doesn't talk to me again; i'm feeling just like when you find yourself take the elevator with someone you barely know and draws, awkwardly, a veil of silence.
Well, i can't actually blame him for this, we don't have many things to talk about. Apart, maybe, the way he saved the world from that alien invasion, along with the others.
To be fair, i'm not sure he wants to talk of this story again, though; in short, from what i know he payed even personally for that effort, so i don't think it's the case to bring it back just to chat a little.
I stare at my polished nails while i think thar, obviously, i'm grateful to him, but i don't feel like acting as adoring/annoying fan or overwhelm him question about his superhero life, since it's not really the right occasion for me.
Even if i'm still curious about few things, like what kind of classified informations Coulson let leak out with out and what convinced the billionaire to host me here.
I just can't come in terms with this thing of being kept in the dark ' for my safety ' and to watch somebody else dispose of my life just because is right this way. Yeah, i understand that's already life-wretching enough to realize that my mother is implied in some super secret investigation of a as well secret agency, maybe even more than CIA since i have hardly heard it before, in which i stumbled just coming back home... But, this kind of stuff just make me mad. I left the campus for too little time for them to find it out, because they had to know.
It's pretty upsetting too, indeed, that these people could be aware of certain details of my life without my permission, let's say. But i can't know anything, anyway.
I bring two fingers to my lips, thoghtful. And, so, the fact he asked me if knew where she was and i was the one who believed she was at that psycoanalist conference... I realized just now that right there started her setup. And right there Coulson understood that i was completely oblivious, because they know, clearly, that she wasn't where she told she would be... But who knows where.
In this moment, i don't even want to imagine in what she is implied, but i just want thank her for making me a vulnerable element to whatever threat that could trouble my sleep.
The elevator bell rings and brings me back to reality, so i see Stark stepping out from the automatic doors and nod his head towards me; i follow him, taking my suitcase with me and, so, my hazel eyes lay on the spacious place we're entering in, that looks like an open floor plan.
« Here we are, this will be your accomodation. The entire floor is an apartment, basically, here you see the living area and on the other side, » he points at the hallway lighted by led tracked lighting, « there is the sleeping quarters and the toilet facilities. »
After these words, the billionaire turns towards me and adds:
« And this are the logistical arrangemts, let's say. But there are a few conditions to be met. You can inhabit the entire floor, obviously, it's free and it's yours, but i think that would be not very wise for you get out of here.
There is plenty of incomphrensible stuff in the Tower and i really don't want you to take any other risk; then again, Agent assign you to me and i, cross my heart, don't want anything bad happen to you, so it's better if you entertain yourself here.»
He brings a hand on his chest and wraps up: « Yeah, i know i'm very generous and that you don't know how to thank me, but for me is business as usual, Little Miss Sunshine. »
I stare at him, absolutely dismayed, and i'm not sure to express myself in the best way, since i don't want to make a scene, but i reply:
« Really? You wanna makin' me believe this is your generosity? » And, so, i spin my index to point the space around me. « That lock up a person under house arrest is the best thing you can do for her? In my opinion, the iron suit went right into your head... ! »
Stark, suddenly, changes his facial expression and exclaims:
« Listen, Little Miss Sunshine, i don't have time to baby-sit you, okay? I have more important business to attend to. You have been, frankly, an unforseen problem and i did my best to accomodate dear Coulson's request, so you should try to make it easier for me, too. »
« First of all, my name is Heather. Secondly, i should try to make things easier ?!
It wasn't me asking to come here and i don't think to be on camping trip at the Avengers Tower, right... ?
I will never tolerate to be confined here like if it's me the criminal! You don't want me to get in your way, to be a nuisance...? Fine, but you can't prevent me to hang around in the building, since, apparently, i will have to remain relegated here, anyway... ! »
I don't need necessarily need his approval; if it's essential for me to clash with him, let's say, for not being treated as dirt to hide under the carpet, i'm in.
It's clear, i wouldn't mind gain his support, and it would be one chance in a million, but i have been living well until now so...
« The matter is closed, i don't discuss with a kiddo. If you want something to eat, apart from the little fridge there, you can notify me through J.A.R.V.I.S. and i'll send it up to you. »
Along with these words, the billionaire passes me and head towards the elevator. But i'm not going to admit the defeat, so i reply:
« Ehi, who do you think you're talking to? »
« With a mouthy little girl. »
I see him vanish behind the automatic doors, with a smirk on his face, but for me it isn't over. I quickly take off my parka and rush to the elevator, determined to check at which floor he would stop, in order to go after him.
Fine, tenth floor. As soon as it's free, i pull it up again and, so, i step into the cubicle. I look at the buttons panel and push the number ten; then, my attention, absenmindedly, shifts to the artificial pearls and gemstones that embellish my black sweater, but, suddenly, i realize that i don't know my floor number.
No, it's bummer... Oh, well in someway i'll manage to come back there. Besides, if i find Stark he'll repeat to me, for sure, till i'll learn it for good.
Absorbed in my thoughts, i'm taken aback by the fact that the elevator has already stopped; i'm already got to the floor? But, giving a quick glance to the panel before the doors' could open, i realize that another another button is lightened, the fifthieth one.
It means that somebody booked the elevator while i was already inside...? In a split of second i wonder who will appear when the doors will open...
The very first thing i notice are two blue eyes, so intense to make me almost catch my breath, feeling they pointed at me.
They're crowned by two blonde eyebrows, of which one is furrowed in a quizzical way, and, then, i move to rest of his face, to the perfect jawline, the short blonde hair...
« Excuse me, but i never had the pleasure to meet you... Who are you? »
This is the question that Captain America himself is asking to me.
The automatic doors are going to close, but he blocks them with a hand. He's wearing a white tank-top, from which i can clearly see his phisyque, and a pair of kaki sweatpants.
I, suddenly, feel like i can't speak again and all the self-confidence i had till few seconds ago to face Stark, seems just faded away.
I have to admit that i didn't expect this wiew.
« Well, i... it's a kind long story, but i can explain everything. Agent Coulson took me here. » I manage to say, eventually.
« Ah, sure... Phil. No, wait a minute, is he alive... ? » He exclaims then, astonished.
« He should't be...? »
« Let's say it's a long story, too.» And along with these words, he steps in the elevator and adds « At which floor you were going? I pulled it up when you must be already inside. »
I have to say that this is the first pleasant thing of today. I'm this close to Captain America... This is totally exciting... ! Alright, but now i don't have to go overboard, relax.
« I'm sorry, i was so impolite, i'm Steve Rogers. » So, he stretches his right hand in my direction.
« Heather Blacksmith, very nice to meet you. » I shake his hand and then i continue « By the way, i already knew you, i mean, i know your story and i see you on the news about the Battle of New York and because of that absurd chase towards you... »
I bring my side bangs behind my right ear and smile at him. Gosh, is not that he thinks now... that i want a piece of him... ? Actually i don't mind at all.
« Yeah, well, it has been a little complicated in the last period, but everything will be alright. Can i ask you how did you met Agent Coulson? I don't want to seem intrusive, but... »
The automatic door suddenly open and, just because of this, i realiza that we got the crucial tenth floor.
Il look like the foyer of a laboratory.
« You had to get to this floor...? » Steve asks to me, then.
« Not really, i was mostly looking for Stark because we have a conversation on hold. »
Speaking of the devil, here he comes. I can see him head in our direction, with is elegant suit no more, but with a Black Sabbath t-shirt and a pair of work trousers, tire iron in hand.
« You don't wanna let it go, right? And i can see gleefully that you are escorted by Capsicle... It's interesting who you can meet in the Tower, right? Fun is over, go back upstairs that i'm busy. »
The billionaire is trying to get rid of me again, with a dismissive wave of the hand.
« I'm not a little girl, i don't need the oversight of anybody... ! Are you so sure that i'll turn ou as troublemaker? » I ask, then, in the attempt to make my case.
« You already are... ! Otherwise you wouldn't already be friending with someone...! »
« What would be the problem, anyway? Heather is not doing anything wrong.»
Interferes Steve, then.
« No, no, it's none of your business Capsicle...! See what's happens... ? We don't have to involve her! » And he points the tire iron towards me.
I sigh heavily, it really gets on my nerves how he addresses to me, or how he doesn't.
« Fine, if that's the case, no problem. I'll go back upstairs and i'll never put you in such a position because of my presence... ! »
I turn in the elevator direction, pretty annoyed, but then i add:
« What's my floor number, please? »
« Fifty, Little Miss Sunshine. »
So, i pull up the elevator and step into it without turning again.
To be continued...