p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ce67ed8038c2086b739ac7dd4a0838cd"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"SOMETIMES I WONDER IF MY/em/span life is a movie and everything is fake because of how bizarre everything truly is. There's always something around the corner, whether it's Hydra, the government, or new secrets. I seem to learn more about myself every single week. I guess that's just life, and I need to suck it up. That's what they tell the people in movies, at least./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a93a2178a2e0e089c14a476881fbd04"It's been a month since I woke up, and I've been working with Shuri nonstop to find out about my heritage. I've barely seen Bucky with how busy I've been, and it seems like every time I get to see him, there's always something else I need to do, some person I need to go see next, or some meeting I have to attend. I only have time to give him a quick hug and kiss before I'm running away again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="834d6116d1c63d8afb392e99d57791c8"Shuri has tested my blood, my DNA, and any other part of my body she can test, but she can't figure out what I am exactly. She says it's as if my insides have disguised itself as human and that it is possible for someone to have tampered or altered with my DNA to make sure no one could find out the truth about my origins. I asked her how that is even possible, but she just assured me that anything is possible./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2e041182a2608f4dd999406e3cb2b9d6"I'm starting to realize just how right she is./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f120c5aec6f974bef14982cc40a2c036"While Shuri investigates what I could possibly be, T'Challa insists I train with him. I agree since I probably need some practice since I only have my electrokinesis and fighting skills. Whatever makes me alien, however, does leave me with above average endurance, strength, and healing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4c45a2ee9dc08400534562c5566491bb"When I enter the training room, T'Challa is already there. He smiles politely when he notices that I've entered and walks closer to me. "Any news from Shuri?" he asks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8c51756d72fb9b1c3b05c8bab1b38d3b"I shake my head, a sigh slipping from my lips. "No. Just the same."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6f8d42218345c0721790645d34ddfa90"He nods in understanding and doesn't say anything else. Instead, he gets in a defensive position, signaling he's ready to fight. I smile slightly, liking the fact that he knew I didn't want to talk about it much. The fact that I'm not even human haunts me, especially at night when I'm lying in bed alone./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0be3613942738ca2a01c1271ec593fe1"T'Challa attacks first, knowing that I'm not keen on making the first move. I'm not the aggressive fighter, I'm the sneaky fighter. We agree on using no powers and to go without any suits, so it's a complete fair fight. It also makes it more fun./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="74dc3fd6584452a58fabe035104dd717"I block T'Challa's first punch, dodging to the side with ease. It would take a lot more work than that to take me down. I've been alive for over a hundred years; I have more experience than him. I fake a punch towards his right side, and while his left side is exposed, I give him a swift kick. It's not enough to hurt, but it's enough to want to make him uncomfortable./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d1cf77cf576e4ea9d124e934e366cf05"T'Challa smiles despite the fact I just hit him. It's as if he likes the fact I'm winning. He tries to punch me in the face, but I block him with my arms, holding them up to protect my face. While I'm distracted, he kicks my feet out from under me, and I barely have time to brace for impact as I hit the ground./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="13249323a912dc319642fcdccedb44fc"He gets on top of me, holding me down like we're two wrestlers and glancing down at my face in amusement. "Finally going to give the victory to me?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f7a4eaf7979618e69ff591a264dbc76a""Never," I reply with a slight smirk as I get my arms free and wrap them around his body, making it seem like I'm about to hug him. Instead, I flip him over, reversing the position he had me in, and hold him down firmly. "I win," I tease, quickly getting off of him and holding my hand out to help him up. It's hard to believe we were fighting each other a few months ago./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="38a91b16a7eb1ea48d01ef9951844e5a"T'Challa shakes his head as he gets on his own two feet with my help. "I'll beat you one of these days, Avery." He walks over to the edge of the room and grabs us both two water bottles before rushing back over, holding one out to me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c88211859050488d36ab4a19714f1ff8"I chuckle in response as I take the water bottle he offers me. "C'mon," I say, gesturing towards the doors, "let's go see what Shuri's up to." When he nods, I lead us out of the room and to where Shuri's really cool lab is located. When I first saw it, I was reminded of Howard and even of Tony, with both of their brilliant minds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a9988aa01a9da185fb5c88457986c933"T'Challa and I are expecting Shuri to be hard at work on some invention or idea, but instead, we find her doctoring on Bucky. My eyes widen when I notice his right arm is bleeding quite rapidly. When I walk closer, there's a clear gash in his upper arm. "Bucky!" I exclaim, my green eyes finding his blue eyes swiftly. "What happened?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a2e7087b459701b5e9ca0d6cecee8a5a""Your boyfriend here is apparently very clumsy," Shuri explained, gesturing to Bucky's injury. "He fell off a quite high inclination and hit a rock. This behavior is expected, though, since there is no left arm to balance him out."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8c337f56846ea1ef2161ddcab5e5c715"I nod in understanding, finding the situation sort of amusing until I see the look in Bucky's eyes, a look I am so familiar with seeing on my own face. He's obviously upset. I glance over at Shuri and T'Challa, a pleading expression on my face. "Can we have a minute alone?" The two of them nod in understanding and leave the room, Shuri probably standing as close to the door as she could possibly get to try to listen in on our conversation./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2afd48b4cce11230d16a281026793f86"I sit down next to Bucky, leaving a good bit of space between us. I don't want to stifle him and try to baby him because I know that's not what I would want him to do to me either. Before I can even open my mouth, Bucky is spewing words out of his mouth, "Aves, where have you been?" My eyes widen at his direct approach, but I understand why he's asking. I've been so MIA lately it's worrisome and quite annoying. I didn't tell him the information Shuri told me about my bloodline and DNA. I guess I'm scared of what he'll say, but I know I don't want to tell him I'm actually and alien. I doubt that's what your boyfriend wants to hear when you havem't seen him in forever. "Well, I'm waiting," he says again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e73aa1f15bf0174a2c1d5ca5368066ab"Releasing a deep sigh, I open my mouth and close it just to open it again and allow a jumble of words to spew out. "Look, I've been helping Shuri with some...new information she found out about me while I was in cryo."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2cb6f4b236bb8ec52d2bd9f1c0bb6609""And what information is that?" he asks the question I've been dreading. I'm stupid for hoping he wouldn't ask./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3f2550c3d9755fdb7996cf9d2ee83adf"I shake my head. "Uh, it's nothing important, really."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f6c7857b0a74d055d6a47128d03cf25d"Bucky narrows his eyes, and I know he doesn't believe me one bit. "Really?" he asks, his voice mocking. "It's obviously more important than our relationship to you." My heart leaps in my chest, and I'm left to wonder if this is going to be our first fight, at least the first one I can remember. Bucky and I seem to have always gotten along, and when we had disagreements, they were minor and easy to solve. This one seemed bigger than that, though./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d365398626ad274277792f5ac87fc6a0""Bucky, no," I reply. "How could you say something like that?" My voice is accusing, and I sound mad. I'm not helping the situation at all, but I can't help getting defensive of myself. I've always been sort of a hot head./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="86fa8cecf56b3c461b856400158a92ca""Because, Avery, that is exactly what's happening," he answers my question. "I haven't even had a full conversation with you in weeks."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eb4922293958a5e1204203e1bbfea11f"I sigh deeply, running a hand over my face. "You just don't understand. I've been dealing with something ever since I woke up."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ff42f710ba0a2cc6558cbc4055fa6380"Bucky stands up then, sending me a harsh look. "Make me understand then, Avery! I sure would like to know!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="73fdc7f03f257765ec68a7d8a4f4a91f"Oh, so we're yelling now./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c6b5d2dd6a9af901060a4797a88d9392"I can practically feel my blood pressure rising. The sensation of electricity flowing through my body becomes more prominent, and suddenly, I'm aware of every molecule around me and inside my body. I stand up too, sending him a glare of my own. "You know what, I don't think I will! It's my business anyway!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="abe896d8e5a84c9a5f8d0e953fdfbf05"Bucky clenches his fist, and I know he's ready to punch something. Instead, he takes a deep breath and says, "Fine, since you'd rather be alone, whatever is between us is done." With that, he walks out, leaving me to stare blankly at his retreating figure./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b2e9dda0d77b71efd68899fbbfa1f96e"I'm still to angry to care, though. I know later at night I will be crying my eyes out in the bed, but right then in that moment, I yell after him, "Fine! Leave then! I don't care about you anyway!" As those words leave my mouth, I realize what I've done and said to him, the man I love. I hate myself for it, but I can't take them back./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0b289df14abb855f7a3485be78a81550"I turn and face the window of Shuri's lab, closing my eyes so I can try and calm myself down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d7bfed6baaa1c61a3f03b0ea2328a7e8"Shuri and T'Challa enter the lab cautiously, probably expecting me to be flipping the tables or whatever they suspect I would do when mad, but they find me staring out the window instead. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice T'Challa pushing Shuri towards me, and if I weren't in such a bad mood, I would have laughed. "Avery, are you alright?" she asks, her voice cautious./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f74eb936a090ef02b1836c7f5c810460"I take a deep breath and open my eyes. They're now stone cold just as the rest of my body is. I turn to face the siblings, a firm look on my face. "Yeah, I'm fine."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="199d0f7aaefe7a8c3a987e3ead45915e"But inside, I wasn't. I had just ruined one of the best things in my life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="710c2994a151a2385f1ee7b998e8d816"I had lost Bucky Barnes./p