Leaving my mothers home was hard. I didn't know where exactly I was going or when I could come back. I didn't have any answers from my Mom since we left so fast. I have even more questions about myself and Ben... Caleb. Whomever he is.
The metal cuffs leave my wrists. I look up to see Natasha removing them. Fury decided to ride up front with another female agent while Natasha sits next to me in the back. Fury and the driver are quietly talking as we leave town.
"Sorry about the cuffs. Just an extra precaution since Agent Bailey was there." Natasha apologizes and gives me a meek smile.
"I thought his name was Ben." I mutter under my breath and look out the window.
"As agents we try our best not to get too emotionally invested. Sometimes it happens though." She sighs heavily.
"What happens now? Will I see him again?"
"He's filing out a report on the indiscretion."Fury answers. "We will find out what the council wants to do with him."
"I do have another question." Fury looks back to me. "The file. My file said there were three deaths. I know two of them. Who is the third person?"
Fury turns back around and doesn't say anything for a moment. I can't help but to bite my lower lip in anticipation. How many people do I remember mysteriously disappearing or dying?
"I will tell you in a secure location." He finally decides.
Fair enough. Can't blame the guy. I did just torch my mother's dining room.
*
5:25 AM
The bright red light from the clock is practically screaming at me. I roll over to my back on the most comfortable bed I've ever been on. Everything is white. Like a hotel. I wonder if my stay is just as temporary as that.
Fury dropped me off at the Avenger tower at some point early this morning. Agent Romanoff escorted me to my room and left. I have nothing. I was promised my things would be here soon but until then... nothing.
I haven't slept in over 24 hours but how could I? My adrenaline is pumping. Something inside me is different. I'm not a different person but I'm aware of whatever is inside me. Does that change who I am?
My thoughts begin to scare me and I sit up in bed. The sun is beginning to peek through my blinds. Dawn. A new day and a new life. I check my phone and I panic when I see Jess has text me over 20 times.
Hey boss! I'm closing the store.
I just got home. Thanks again for believing in me.
Bruh it's 3 am and Fed agents just left my house. They questioned me about you. Are you okay??
Ana???
The rest of the texts are just emojis and question marks. I quickly message her and inform her that I will be gone for a while. I let her know my mom will be stepping in to help.
I throw my phone on the bed and get up. The large dresser hopefully has some clothes in it. I desperately needed a shower and change. My hair is greasy and I am too scared to do a sniff test.
To my surprise the dresser is completely filled with clothing. Black. Of course. I grab a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. An assortment of bras and panties in almost every size too. I get what I need and go to the bathroom.
I strip the grimy clothes and throw them in a pile on the tile floor. I take a look in the mirror and notice my body has a layer of soot. My usual sun kissed color is now replaced with a dull grey hue. I sigh and grab a wash cloth hoping I can scrub all this off.
After the shower, I get dressed and braid my hair. I check the closet and find a variety of sweatshirts, jackets and shoes. Finally I find some color, a red sweatshirt with a large A on it. I find some sneakers in my size and I throw them on. I check my phone. Ugh. It's still only 6 am. The room literally has nothing else so I decide it's time to explore.
It doesn't take me long to find the kitchen. It's so large and the smell of fresh brewed coffee lead me straight to it. The room is empty so I raid the cabinets for a mug.
I pour myself a cup and walk to the large window. The sun almost completely over the horizon. The city below bustling and the skyscrapers blazing in the light. I had never been to the city. It's an amazing thing to see especially in this view.
"Ms. Smith. You are requested to the laboratory for a few blood tests." The robotic voice makes me jump. "I apologize Ms. Smith for startling you. My name is JARVIS. I am an A.I. that Tony Stark created."
"Oh. Well nice to meet you JARVIS. Can you tell me where to go?"
"Certainly. Just step into the elevator."
I take a few sips of coffee before I pour it in the sink. Jarvis takes control of the elevator and gets me to the laboratory. It's huge but cluttered. Large machines and computers fill almost every inch of the room. I make my way through all of the moving robotic arms as they weld and tear apart several metal parts. I finally reach a small open area with a chair and medical equipment.
"Just take a seat there." The gruff deep voice comes from a tall dark headed man. He's slumped over a computer typing roughly. I do as he says and remove my sweatshirt so he has access to my arm for blood.
"Dr. Banner. Ms. Smith's vitals appear normal with only a slight raise in blood pressure due to nervousness. Probability of any incident is 45%."
"Thanks JARVIS."
The man turns around with a sheepish grin and a shrug as if to say 'technology nowadays'. I smile and sit back.
"It's nice to meet you Morana. I haven't been thoroughly briefed on you but after your blood work the team is meeting to talk about... to talk with you." He grins again and begins prepping needles and syringes.
"You can call me Ana. Dr. Banner correct?"
"Bruce."
"Are you the Avengers doctor?"
Bruce chuckles, "Something like that."
He puts on gloves and draws a few vials of blood. A robotic arm takes the sample and almost immediately a computer begins beeping and throwing pictures and numbers on the screen. Bruce runs to the screen.
"JARVIS get Ana to the meeting room."
Bruce doesn't acknowledge me as I'm escorted out by the polite robotic butler. I put my sweatshirt on and get in the elevator again.
"JARVIS? What did the computer find in my blood?"
The elevator door opens. I wait for JARVIS to answer but there is only silence. After a few minutes I sigh and step inside to find this meeting room. I round a corner and an open room is to my right. Nick Fury and Natasha are already sitting. Natasha motions me in.
"Hey Ana! We are still waiting on a few people but this is Agent Barton, Agent Hill, and Thor."
I nod to everyone in the room. I remember Agent Hill, she was the driver of the SUV last night. Agent Barton looks nervous and might have a twitch. His eyes scanning everything and watching my every move.
I sit next to the behemoth of a man named Thor. He holds his hand out and I go in for a handshake but as our hands touch he looks at me with a surprised face.
"This little one has power!" He booms happily. "I can feel an Aura around her. I will take her to Asgard if you people can not find her power source."
"We will see." Fury dismisses his suggestion as he types on his phone.
"Thor. Son of Odin. God of Thunder. I'm sure you have heard of me." His blue eyes twinkle and he lightly kisses my hand. I blush and pull my hand away. I had never met a God and certainly never kissed by one.
I sit back in my chair and listen as Natasha and Agent Barton discuss training exercises. She calls him Clint and he calls her Nat. They playfully laugh at each other and causally touch. I don't think their relationship is strictly platonic.
Agent Hill is leaned over Thor's shoulder teaching him how to create an email account. He seems so lost but fascinated by the internet. Agent Hill giggles when he calls her Lady Hill and she asks him to call her Maria instead. Fury looks over clearly displeased with his agent.
A low buzz fills my ears. Like a dozen bees flying around the room. I look around at everyone. No one seems to hear it. I stand up. It's getting louder.
"What's that noise?" I look frantically around as the buzz slowly gets louder.
"What noise?"
"Ana..."
"Lady Ana there is no noise."
Louder. Louder. Louder.
I can't hear anything else. I can't think of anything else. I crumple to the ground holding my head. Stop the noise. Stop the noise. STOP THE NOISE.
Silence.
The buzz is gone and I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"It stopped." I say weakly. My head is still throbbing but at least the painfully loud noise was gone. I stand up to meet beautiful green eyes.
"Steve Rogers. Are you okay ma'am?"
Our eyes are locked on each other. He seems concerned. He pulls his hand away from me and a dull humming sound returns.
"Ana." It's Bruce. My eyes don't leave Steve's though. "Listen to me. You need to calm down."
"Lower your weapons." Steve says. That snaps me out of the trance. I look around and everyone is lowering their guns.
"What was that?" I ask.
"Ana. What happened?" Bruce comes closer to examine me.
"There was a noise. I've never heard it before." I look to Steve Rogers. "Thank you. It stopped when you touched me."
"You're welcome." Steve says and gives me a small smile.
"Alright everyone sit down. Let's try to have a normal meeting now." Fury directs.
Everyone takes a seat and I find myself between Natasha and Clint. Steve is directly across from me. Blond perfectly tousled hair and a strong muscular build. His white button up clings to every muscle and it's hard not to look.
"Are you okay?" He asks and I blush looking away. How long had I been gawking at him?
"I'm fine. It's just uh.."
"Dude it's her first time meeting Captain America!" Clint says and my eyes go wide.
Holy shit! It's freaking Captain America. I look around the room. Scarlet hair... Black Widow. Clint Barton... Hawkeye. Of course Thor but Dr. Banner... Bruce Banner... Hulk. I am so stupid. I'm in a room filled with the Avengers.
"Ms. Smith's heart rate has increased. Incident probability is 78%." JARVIS announces so that all attention is on me again.
"Ana." Natasha puts her hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. Calm down."
The door slams open and in walks a man in a suit. Well groomed hair and goatee. Sunglasses on and phone to his ear. I can hear a few people mutter about his late appearance. He hangs up the phone and whips his glasses off.
Tony Stark. I knew exactly who the billionaire was. He calls out to JARVIS to turn on the screens in the room and footage of a few minutes ago. Instantly a picture of me screaming in the fetal position is on.
I watch completely embarrassed. Everyone on the video backs away from me as I scream. I can see how scared they are. Steve runs into the room without hesitation and touches my shoulder. I can see my body calm. I stand up and we stare at each other for a long time. My brown eyes are blazing blue. No wonder they had guns drawn. I looked like a freak. My eyes go back brown and everyone lowers their weapons. The video stops.
"Okay. What the hell was that?" Tony Stark questions the room.
"We don't know." Steve answers.
"Okay. No offense Morana but you're a huge liability to have here."
"Ana."
"Okay... Ana. Let's cut all the formalities and just discuss what we know." I nod my head to agree with him. Everyone leans back in their chairs as a new screen pops up with numbers and graphs. "Go ahead Bruce."
"Alright so from what we can see you have a type of super soldier serum like Steve. It didn't alter your DNA though... we think it's integrated IN your DNA."
"That doesn't... there's no way. I don't understand." I'm biting my lip nervously.
"We will have to do more testing but it's like your were genetically modified way before birth. Apart from that though, you have cells inside of you that we have never seen before-"
"Midi-cholrians, Bruce. That's what I named them." Tony interrupts and looks at me excited. "Like a Jedi!"
"I'm definitely not a Jedi." I roll my eyes. As much as I love Star Wars I can't find humor in this. "I need a minute." I stand up and walk out the room.
"Don't stray too far, Skywalker!" Tony calls out and then closes the door behind me.
I walk down the hallway a bit to stand next to a large window. I look in the glass to see the reflection of my eyes. They are back to the dark brown I've always had.
How can I be genetically modified? My life had been perfectly normal. My parents met, got married and had me. My dad died of cancer when I was 5 and my Mom took care of me. She did an amazing job.
She took me to doctor checkups and I still go yearly. They always said I was in excellent health. Come to think of it... I've always been healthy. Never a cold or flu or allergies. I've never been sick. Shit!
Why hadn't I thought about this more? I've never complained of headaches or body aches in general. When I fell off the roof of my house, while cleaning the gutters, it didn't bother me. That would hurt normal people. I'm an idiot.
I search my pockets for my phone but remember I left it in my room. Damn. I need to talk to my mom. I need real answers.
"Stupid. This is all stupid." I mutter and kick the window in annoyance.
"Be careful. I'd hate for you to shatter that window." It's Steve. He stands next to me but keeps a fair distance between us.
"Yeah I guess I have more strength than I thought."
"It gets easier and if you need someone to talk to I'm here."
"Thanks Steve but I think we need to stay away from each other. I'm not sure what that whole situation was but I don't want it to happen again." He nods agreeing with me.
"I understand." He smiles and laughs lightly. "I don't know why but I feel connected to you. Something... is pulling me towards you."
I nod. I can feel it to. Being near him it's almost like static between us. My skin tingling softly and the low hum in my ears.
"Can we..." Steve pulls a hand out of his pocket and reaches toward me. "see what might happen?"
I hesitate. His hand being so close though was pulling me in. Without a second thought my hand shoots out into his. Nothing happens. We stand there for a moment and then he quickly pulls his hand back.
"Ow! That kinda hurt." He shakes his hand and then shows me his red palm. "I think you burned me." He laughs it off as I stare in horror.
"I'm sorry. I didn't do anything. I don't know why this is all happening. All of the sudden these powers are unleashing." I look down at my trembling hands. "I-I don't understand."
I turn and run from him. I need to get away. I find the stairwell and take it instead of the elevator. I don't even want to talk to JARVIS right now. I run down the stairs as fast as I can not stopping until I make it to the ground floor. I run out to the main building and outside.
"Hey Ana."
My heart races when I hear the voice. I stop and turn to my left to see a familiar redhead leaning against the building. Caleb.