We are up to the first 10 of Darker Than That! Woohoo!

Enjoy the story! :)

The next morning, very early, Ebony met Bruce and a very stoked Tony in the lab which she was rather familiar now. She had decided to leave her hair out, and put on a red tee with black writing saying 'I HAVE NO REASON TO CARE' and black skinny jeans. They really helped the curve of her butt, she thought absentmindedly, but then washed the silly thought away. Who'd be looking at her butt, anyway?

When she entered, Tony's megawatt grin almost blinded her. He jumped from his chair and yelled, "Modern-day Snow White! I love it!"

Ebony rolled her eyes, yet her mouth twisted into a small smirk. "Again, not Snow White."

Tony just chuckled and poked a finger at her. "Just imagine you putting on red lipstick. See it now?" He held her shoulders and looked off into the distance as if he were in a dream, then burst out laughing. Ebony also had a small, shy smile on her face and when Tony ceased his laughing, he let go of her small shoulders.

"Now," he said. "Follow me."

She followed him into a small room with white, clinical walls and no windows, leaving it to look bland and monotone. When she turned to the older man and gave him a questioning look, he just nodded. "This is the Hulk-out room, where the other guy can... well, you get the point. Either way, you can't damage the walls." Then, he gave her a small push into the centre of the room. "Now, you see those lights above you?" Ebony glanced up, seeing the stark lights which bored into her eyes. When she nodded while squinting, Tony smiled.

"Good. Use those for energy. Then, pulse you powers all around the room. I'll track energy signatures outside." Then, he closed the door, leaving Ebony engulfed in complete milk-white walls and nothing else. Finally, she closed her eyes and began feeling an aura of warmth and strength pulsing towards her. She absorbed the strength, and kept it coming. The lights were slightly flickering now, and she felt a small smile spread across her pale lips as she felt more warmth consume her.

When she felt it was enough, she opened her eyes again, and was met with a brighter image. The walls were practically glowing, and when she looked down, her hands had small sparks of lightning flicking in between her thin fingers. Her shirt was a strong scarlet now, and her tousled hair framing her face was dark as midnight. It was like every single one of her senses, sight most of all, had just been boosted.

After a moment's hesitation, she held her left hand out timidly, and pointed it at one of the white walls. She felt the strong, pulsing energy gather at her fingertips, and then it shot out as it hit the wall. A tingling sensation was running through her body, and she felt like she had felt yesterday... alive.

She felt herself grin in appreciation, then turned to another wall, another blast hitting the next wall. Ebony felt like she was in control, and it sent tingles and rushes of energy throughout her entire body. She wondered whether it was good what she was feeling, but her happy thoughts were interrupted when the door slammed open, and a person ran through it.

She flinched. At first, Ebony thought it was Bruce, running around like his hair was on fire, but on close speculation, it was Bucky. He looked livid, and she suddenly felt a cloud of anger upon her. Is he angry at me? He better not be, she thought cruelly as he rushed up to her, then stopped around a few feet away. He shuffled a bit, then just stayed put.

"What the hell?" Ebony was the first person to speak after her stunned silence.

"I should be asking you the same thing," he hissed back. "You... how come-" He reached an arm towards her, but he wasn't any closer to touching her. It confused both parties just as much, and his stare turned into a glower again. "Ebony," he said calmly, anger lacing the calm storm of his voice. "Drop the forcefield."

"What forcefield? What the hell are you saying? Why are you here?" The questions came flying out of Ebony before she could stop them, and she made no bother to pretend like she wasn't completely pissed at this. Two seconds ago, she had felt good, energised and strong, now she felt annoyed, irritated and frustrated. This guy is gonna make me go crazy, she thought in desperation.

He looked at her like she was insane. "'What forcefield'?! Oh, I don't know, maybe the one you have up right now!" He yelled back, and Ebony flinched again. This time, he could get through to her, and he grabbed her forearm when she did, then pulled her out of the pristine room.

"What the fuck?! What are you doing?" She cried as he continued dragging her like he was her parent or something. He had no right to just grab her like that!

He stopped and spun around, a murderous glare on his face. However, it wasn't directed at her, instead at something behind her. Ebony twisted her head to see Stark standing there, looking as shocked as she felt.

"You," He spat at Stark. "Should know better than to train her. She's not okay. And you," now he turned to glower at her, yet the look was somewhat softened. "Disabled my arm and I could feel your energy all the way from the 7th floor."

Ebony's jaw dropped in shock. Did she really disable his arm from what, 4 floors away? And he felt her powers? What was in those lights? she thought, still somewhat flummoxed.

Tony, however, was now throwing his arms in the air, excitedly running around. "This is perfect!" He exclaimed. "She's more powerful than I thought! The energy levels- they're off the charts!" He was smiling brightly at Ebony now, however when she turned her head again, Bucky was not smiling.

"You are putting her in danger. That's not perfect," he retorted as he continued his dragging her with his flesh arm, which, by the way, seemed to be as strong as his metal one. Ebony couldn't tell the difference; she was stuck either way.

"Oh, come on, Frosty, she's fine. She enjoyed herself. I know what I saw."

"I don't care what you saw!" Bucky shouted back. "She's not training like this. Not until she's ready." With that, Bucky dragged both himself and Ebony out of the lab, leaving Stark behind.

"Oh, yeah? When will she be ready?!" Tony hollered.

Bucky did not reply.

Ebony's eyes were filled with fury by the time they had begun on the hallway. She continued trying to wrench herself from his strong grip, yet he didn't budge. Suddenly, she dug her heels into the floor and stopped.

He spun around to glance at her. She, in return, took her time to ask something. "What the hell?"

Bucky ignored her however, continuing to drag her even though her current posture made it no easier. She continued shouting obscene and vicious questions, each of them ricocheting off of Bucky's tough exterior.

"What has gotten into you?! Will you please explain why you even freaking care? Why would you-"

Her screams were cut short when he whirled so fast she couldn't see, the next thing she knew she was slammed into a wall, Bucky effectively pinning her. His face was inches from hers, and Ebony suddenly felt a cold feeling of discomfort and regret on angering a former assassin.

He made no move to hurt her. Instead, he hissed two words; "Shut. Up." They stayed in their rather... intimate position for a few heartbeats, before Bucky regained control of himself and pushed off of her, continuing to storm towards the elevator, with her in tow. He mentally cursed himself over and over. Way to go on making her comfortable, he thought wryly. What if she has a boyfriend? Why would I care? Then, he snapped internally and just told the voices in his head to shut up as well.

When they got into the elevator, Bucky slammed the button '7' with his metal fist, creating a small dent on and around the button. Ebony was still in shocked silence, and refused to say a single, snarky comment on what just happened. Usually, she would, but right now, she was completely tongue-tied. Clearly, we know which of the boys doesn't like you, she thought, then added, why am I sounding like some stupid middle schooler?

Suddenly, Bucky broke the deafening silence. His voice was quiet, but Ebony heard very well. "I'm.. sorry."

Was he apologising? Well, 'sorry' does mean someone's apologising, doesn't it?!

Ebony almost face palmed herself for the stupid conversation her brain was having with itself right now. Clearly, sleep-deprivation was starting to take its toll on her.. after 7 years. Scratch that; clearly, being in the presence of the Avengers was taking its toll on her.

Turning her head to see his cobalt eyes downcast, she felt herself soften up a tiny fraction. Then, she quietly nodded, and stepped out on the 7th level, leaving him behind in the dark elevator.

And... I have no idea how to talk to women anymore, he thought suddenly. Steve's right, I have lost my touch.

Ahaha whaddaya think?

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