Chapter 37
Time passed and Bella started to feel like a prisoner in that room, she had to get out of there. There was also the fact that she was bored out of her mind.
She wondered around until she found a workspace with lots of computers and equipment.
An empty space with lots of computers. Her hand itched as she stood by the door, conflicted.
She had spent all her time trying to escape Stark's money, his name, his legacy. His many crimes. Ever since she learned of her blood connection to him.
Now, here she was, in a place where there was no choice but to take something, because everything there were his.
If it was anywhere else, she would be all over those computers. But here, here it felt wrong. It felt bad just to want to do it.
Her mind flashed back to her mom, how she never wanted that man to be her father, how she found Bella a better one. The best one. She only told her daughter about Stark because she was depressed and drunk.
What would she say now? Seeing where Bella was? That she was disappointed? On what? On what Bella did for a living that led to Tomas giving up on her? Or with her being caught and not continuing her mission? Her mother was a changed woman the last years, it was hard to figure out what she would think about anything.
The woman she was before, before loosing George, she would be horrified of having her little girl in danger like that.
Bella forced herself to tear her eyes away from the computers and turned around. It was no use wondering what her mother would think. She was dead. George was dead. They were not coming back and couldn't say anything.
She wondered around for a little longer, hunger eating at her stomach. Her stubbornness was starting to lose space to the needs of a human body.
She was in the more private area of the HQ, where the rooms for the Avengers were, so there wasn't any of the other employees around, it was good, she didn't want to be around many people.
" Bella, hi. " She stopped, looking back and seeing Wanda coming out from one of the rooms, wearing working out clothes and looking a little tired and sweaty.
" Wanda. "
Bella's mind immediately flashed back to two red metal eyes that were disappearing in a blur, and two figures who stood doing nothing.
She knew that Wanda was an Avenger now and had no reason to hurt her. But her reflexes got the better of her, and she could not help but to take a few steps back.
Wanda frowned a little, then cleared her throat.
" I... hoped to run into you. " Said the woman.
" Why? " Asked Bella. " Walk down memory lane and remember our 'wonderful' time together? " She asked, in her usual sarcastic tone.
" Right. I guess I deserve that. " Said Wanda, running a hand over her hear. " I just... wanted to talk to you. "
" Well, I'm sorry but the office is closed for the day here, so if you'll excuse me- " Started saying Bella, turning around to leave.
" I'm sorry. "
She stopped. She didn't turn around, but she stopped.
" I shouldn't have let my anger guide my actions. Blind me. " Continued the woman. " Pietro and I... we had lived for vengeance for a long time, it sounded like the most important thing in the world. More important than stopping Ultron from disrespecting your right to decide what happens to your own body. "
" Disrespecting. " Said Bella with a huff. " That's a really mild word. "
" I know. " Said Wanda. " I was trying to avoid a harsher one. "
Bella could understand that. She never talked about it, too many conflicting thoughts. But she had thought a lot about it. A lot of 'harsher' words.
She took a deep breath and turned back, seeing the woman still in the same place, her face filled with guilt.
" What do you want? " Asked Bella, sharply. " A therapy moment? Share? I don't do that. "
" I wanted to apologize. " Said Wanda. " You don't have to forgive me. "
Bella didn't even know how to feel about Wanda. She had no idea if that apology was welcome or not.
" Oh, well. You said it. " She said. " Now, I have to go. "
This time, when she started walking away, she didn't stop. Didn't stop until she reached a kitchen.
Her stomach growled. Her members felt weak and shaky. It had been a long time since she last ate. She was at the limit of how long she could go. She knew because that was a limit she had met many times during her years on the street.
It was the limit where she started looking for food in dumpsters.
She scowled at herself, but she approached the space, going for the fridge.
When she opened it, her mouth watered at the sight of the pizza box. She reached for it, opening it and taking a piece. Sausage with extra cheese. It was even her favorite flavor.
She took a bite of the cold food, chewing slowly, so she wouldn't get sick from eating too fast after no eating for so long. Again something she knew from experience.
She managed to finish the piece in peace. Feeling the relief it brought her. She was still a little hungry, but not enough for another whole piece, so she looked around for a moment until she found a roll of kitchen foil, she took what she deemed an amount that was enough, then took another piece of pizza.
When she was satisfied, she wrapped what remained in the foil and put it in one of her pockets. Safe for later. She took also a bottle of water and left the kitchen.
Pepper had a while until she had to leave for her meeting in Washington. Tony still was a little cold with her, as he sometimes got when he had a lot on his mind. So she spent some time with Maria and Rhodey, who were friends she didn't get to spend a lot of time with.
When she went to the kitchen to get herself some coffee, she saw that there was someone there already, she waited by the door, not getting in. The last time she talked to Bella it hadn't gone well. And to be honest, she wanted to watch the girl for a moment. Wanted to know why she was taking a piece of foil.
The girl took a slice of pizza from the fridge, slowly eating as she stood in the middle of the kitchen. Her body language was very odd, like a skittish animal that was ready to run away at any second. Another reason why Pepper didn't interrupt.
Bella didn't eat half of the slice before she took the foil and wrapped the rest. The surprising part was that the girl put the wrapped food in her pocket before taking a bottle of water and leaving the kitchen through the other door.
Why would she take the food with her and not put it back on the fridge? That was odd. And for some reason it sounded an alarm on the woman's head. Like somewhere in her mind, she had an idea why that wasn't a good habit for a girl who was supposed to be getting comfortable living there.
Pepper got herself some coffee, then went to find Tony.
And what a surprise (except it was exactly what she expected) he was in the garage, looking at the hologram of the engine of the car in front of him, tools all around him.
He was so predictable.
" Hey. " She said, not so happy as it would have normally been. They were post a kind of 'fight' or disagreement.
He turned around, dropping the tool on his hands with the others next to him.
" Hey. "
" Are we okay? " She asked, holding the cup in her hands and warming her hands with the warmth of the liquid inside.
" Yeah, we are. " He said, with that bullshit 'I'm always awesome' posture and expression.
" Really? Because, if I crossed a line- "
" No, it's fine. " He said, a little discomfort flashing in his eyes. " My issues are no state secrets. "
" Yeah, but- "
" I'ts fine. " He said. " I wasn't offended. I was just... defensive. You can talk whatever you want. I mean, if anyone can, it's you. "
" Oh, good. " She said, approaching a little more. " You know, I also have no idea how to solve all this. I was just, thinking out loud. "
" You're not wrong. " He said. " And that it's me saying it. " He added with a little smirk. It really was very, very hard for him to admit he was wrong.
She smiled, shaking her head.
" So?... " She asked.
He sighed.
" I will be staying here. For a while. " He said, then smirking. " And yes, I know you're very proud of me and loving me even more right now. But contain yourself, we are in a public place. "
She laughed, rolling her eyes. He was so stupid, why did she love him?
" I'll try. " She said.
" It's hard, I know. I am very lovable. Handsome. Charismatic. Sexy- "
" Should I leave? "
They both turned their heads to see the mechanic of the HQ looking at them with a little uneasy expression. True, he wasn't that close to them, but they hadn't even noticed he was there.
" Yes. " Said Tony.
" No. " Said Pepper, at the same time as him. She turned at him and added. " No. "
He made one of his fake pouting faces.
" Fine. "
This place was big, but not big enough to keep Bella busy exploring it for long periods of time. She felt like a trapped animal, everywhere she turned, there was another closed window and door. Keeping her in with all the things she wanted to be able to ignore.
She thought about Wanda's apology. The woman said she was sorry about not stopping ULTRON from putting her in Helen's cradle. It didn't change the fact that Bella now had a permanent change to her body made against her will. And the Maximoffs stood there and did nothing.
But ULTRON was lying to them about his plan. And it wasn't like Bella herself hadn't done things wrong. She did. She stood by his side, too scared for herself to do something to stop him.
Her worry about herself had gotten a lot of people killed who hadn't need to die.
Bella knew she could never be forgiven for what she did. Why should she forgive Wanda? She should take responsibility for her actions.
But on the other side, wasn't working in the Avengers a way to seek responsibility? Even if, working with people who kill people in a regular basis was a completely misguided way to do it.
Bella rubbed her hands over her hair, groaning. She hated, HATED gray areas. It's why she didn't allow herself them. It's why she went after people who did despicable things for nothing more than greed. They didn't believe in what they were doing, they did it for greed.
Bella knew the mistakes she had made in the past, knew that eventually she would pay for them. She also knew that she was well withing her rights, and duty, to continue punishing those greedy monsters until the ax finally came down. Black and White, no gray.
She could blame Wanda for the people who died over her actions. That would never go away or be forgiven. But ignoring what ULTRON did to Bella... well, she thought that she was doing the best thing by helping ULTRON, if Wanda went against him, she thought would have jeopardized her chance to save the world. At least Cho was under mind control and not responsible for what she did. Fewer issues to mess with the teenager's head there.
Bella found an office, going in and sitting down on the chair behind the table. She opened the water bottle and put her feet up, taking a sip of the cool liquid.
Bella was still hurt. She wasn't ready to forgive anything. It had been a long time since she was able to forgive anything. She just couldn't say it was okay. No, she couldn't take the apology.
Wanda should just have to be glad that Bella didn't hate her as she hated Tony. But that was a given.
She looked around the table, seeing barely used stationery supplies and a keyboard (that probably costed more than most entry levels computers on the market today) positioned in a way that showed it was used the most.
Her hands itched again. She wondered what was happening out there, who was selling what to whom.
Did it really matter if it was Stark's computer? If she was working again? Specially if he didn't want her working in the first place?
She got her feet of the table, sitting straighter and turning on the computer. First thing she saw, the request for an identification and password.
This was a computer Stark made, it would be almost impossible to not be noticed when hacking into bank accounts. She could of course, sever the connection to the main system, with its protocols, and allow herself to keep working. But they would know she was there doing it. But she was not taking any money today. She had to do research first.
Well, might as well start.
Her fingers flew over the keys. It took her forever (in her opinion) to break through the password and id page. Then she was in.
Vision had a vast set of powers, he knew that. He was also mentally an adult, due to his mind being made by a mesh of JARVIS' and ULTRON's. That had nothing to do with experience in the battle field.
Working as part of a group was very hard. He felt inadequate every time he left training with Rogers, even if the man was always telling him he was doing well. That Vision didn't need to be so hard on himself.
Perfectionism must be the AI part of him.
He was wondering about all the things he had learned about anticipating other's movements when he passed by one the offices. Normal thing, offices were all around that place. The unusual part was the teenage girl working there.
" Bella? " He greeted, entering the space.
" Hey Red. " She said, eyes not slowing down as they ran from one spot to the other in the screen.
" What are you doing? "
" Working. " She said. Fingers starting to work fast for a moment then stopping, eyes running over the screen again.
" I thought you would not be doing that again. " He said. He had come to the conclusion that if she was going to get better, she had to stop this 'work' of hers. For good. Everyone else in the compound thought so too.
" Thought wrong. "
He wondered if all little brothers had annoying big sisters. He wasn't even surprised at the big sister comment. Bella felt like family to him. Tony was the reason they were both in the world, it was enough for him. He wasn't going to wonder about it for longer.
" No, I didn't. " He said. " You have to stop. "
" No. " She answered, not missing a beat and not even pausing in what she was doing.
" Yes. " He said.
" Nope. "
He wasn't one to be angry. He was very rational and able to maintain calm in the most dire of situations. But he had the impression that Bella would challenge that.
" Why do you insist in this? Why can't you stop? " He asked. " It only calls more danger to you. "
" So what? " She asked. " Why don't you stop doing what you're doing? "
" Because you're a kid and I'm not. " He said.
" You're like a year old! " She said, still not glancing at him. " I'm much older than you and I'm telling you that all this 'you're a kid' thing, it's crap. "
" I'm made by two part who were not kids. " He said. " I'm not human, I'm not made of normal flesh and blood, like you. "
" I'm not flesh and blood anymore. Not entirely. " She said, finally looking away from the screen, looking past his to the floor, behind him. " Look. You can stand there and not change my mind, or you can leave me alone. What I'm doing needs doing and no one else seems to be willing to get it done, so if you please- " She finished with a shooing motion.
" No, I'm not- " He said, making the shooing motion she did, as she looked back at the screen.
" Yes, you are. "
" No. "
" Yes. "
" No. "
" Yeah! "
" No! " He insisted, he was loosing his patience. " I'm not going anywhere. I'm getting you to do something else. "
" Ha! " She laughed once. " Good luck with that. "
" Thank you, but I don't believe it's necessary. " He said, moving towards her and grabbing her in her middle and swinging her over his shoulder.
" The HELL!? " She asked. " Let go of me. "
" As soon as you are out of this room and away from the computer that has access to all these databases. " He said, passing through the door, but stopping, because she had grabbed the door frame.
" No! " She exclaimed. " I'm in the middle of a report about eastern Europe dealers! "
" You're not in the middle of anything but being very childish. " He said. " Let go of the door. "
" Never! " She said.
" So how will you work? Glued to the door frame? " He retorted. He had been right, she was a challenge to his calm.
" Don't try to be clever! "
" I can't help but being cleverer than the one being extremely difficult. " He said.
" Says the one trying to physically drag me away! " She exclaimed.
" What's going on here? "
Both of them turned their heads, as much as their positions allowed, to see Steve standing in the end of the hall, looking at them with a confused and a little stern face.
" It is a complicated answer, Captain. " He said.
" It's not! " Said Bella, taking the opportunity, seeing he was momentarily distracted and jumped from his hold and shoulders and ran in the office, slamming the door shut. " He's got a few artificial synapses loose! " Came the muffled yell, along with the noise of locking.
" You do realize I can just phase through the door? " He asked, surprised at how close to sounding angry he was.
All the answer he got was a high-pitched annoying version of what he said.
" Vision. " He looked from the closed door to Steve again, who was approaching. " I take you and Bella had an argument. "
" It seems that being as difficult as she is, is the only way to get her to stop working. "
" I thought Tony told FRIDAY to stop her when she tried. " Said the man.
" Please! " Came Bella from the inside. " With my code? She can look, but can't touch. "
" I don't understand. " Said Steve. " FRIDAY? "
" As she said, she has severed my direct access to the computer, I can still see what she is doing, but can't stop her from doing it. " Said the AI.
Steve nodded.
" Then cut the power. " He said, as if it was obvious. " It's plugged on the electricity outlet, no? Then cut the power. "
Vision cursed at himself internally. He should have thought of that. It was obvious in hindsight.
Sometimes the one who understood the least of technology, was the one to see a situation with a clarity others who only thought of codes and software, couldn't.
" Of course. " Said the AI.
A moment later, a yell came from inside.
" You Bitch! "
" Language! " Said Steve back, loud enough to be heard through the door.
A moment of silence.
" Did you just seriously just said 'Language' to me? " She asked.
Steve shook his head.
" Just like Tony. Like one isn't enough. " He said, but not loud enough, so she could hear it.