CHAPTER SEVEN
The worst kinds of dreams are the ones that are so real you don't realize they're dreams until you wake up.
Or they turn into nightmares.
I was home with Eli. He was making me breakfast and whistling a song Mom used to sing to us when we were little. I used to have terrible nightmares and Eli was terrified of thunder. At least one of us was awake and screaming in the middle of the night, especially during the summer when we were hit with storm after storm. I actually didn't mind the storms at all. Watching the lightning cascade across the sky and the way I could feel the thunder rumble in my chest. It was the most amazing feeling.
As Eli finished breakfast, the events of the last day started to fade away, like they were the dream and I was finally back home. My brother was no cook, but he tried his best and most of the time the food came out delicious enough. He cracked a joke, but he wasn't really talking. It was that dream talking where you know what they're saying like they're speaking in your mind, but they don't actually say anything with their mouths.
The food, simple bacon and eggs, turned to worms and mush on my plate. Eli grabbed me by the shoulders. He was screaming at me, asking me why I left, when I'll come home.
"You're going to leave me the way mom and dad left us?" He asked.
In the distance, I heard a door slam and I awoke with a jolt.
I was covered in a cold sweat, wearing the big t-shirt and sweatpants Natasha had given me the night before. I wasn't home with Eli. I was still at Avenger's tower in a stranger's room, in a stranger's bed. Alone.
Tears prick at my eyes. My chest seized and my lungs started to sputter. I was going to cry again. Taking a deep breath, I tried to collect myself. I was so tired of crying. What was crying going to do? I was stuck here until the Avengers got Loki's scepter back. Crying wasn't going to change that.
Just then, the door opened and Natasha came in with an armful of clothes.
"You're awake," She said, smiling. "I brought your clothes. I got up early and washed them for you. Figured you might feel more comfortable in your own stuff." She was wearing a simple black pant with a red top and black blazer over it.
I smiled at her. "Thanks."
She walked over and handed me my clothes.
"Maybe later we can go out and get you some other clothes," She said. "Not sure how long it's going to take us to find Ultron and you can't wear the same clothes over and over again."
I shrugged. "I don't mind," I said. I got up and walked to the bathroom to change. I folded the pajamas into a neat pile and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Luckily, I had a hair tie around my wrist so I wouldn't have to ask Natasha for one. I wasn't sure if she'd have one with her hair beings so short.
"We're going over some leads in the lab," Natasha said. "You're welcome to join us if you want or you can wander around for a little bit, I guess."
"I think I'll stick with you," I said.
Natasha nodded and led the way out of the room. In the lab, she sat down at a computer and started working. No one looked at me except Thor, who smiled and patted me gently on the shoulder.
"I heard this is a comforting maneuver here on Midgard," He said.
"Very comforting, Thor," I said. "Thanks." I smiled at him.
Thor beamed. "I can imagine the events of last night were difficult for you."
"Yeah, you can say that," I said.
"Not to worry," He said. "We'll have the scepter back and then we can find a way to get you back to your realm. I've decided that I believe you."
"Perfect," I said, trying not to laugh.
"Is Thor dumber in the movies or the comics?" Natasha asked without looking up from the computer.
"Rude," Thor said.
"I don't think they really know what kind of character they want Thor to be in the movies," I said. "He kind of varies from moment to moment."
Natasha nodded. "Sounds about right."
"Are we going to be chitchatting about the multiverse some more or are we going to try and find Ultron?" Tony asked.
"Is Tony as much of an asshole in the movies as he is in real life?" Natasha asked.
Tony made a face.
"He's worse in the comics," I said. "Thank your lucky stars you don't have to deal with comics Tony."
Natasha turned to look at Tony. "I'll think about it. Major points if you don't build a murder bot again."
"I didn't build a murder bot in the first place," Tony said, defensively.
"We have a lead," Steve said as he walked into the room. He handed Thor a tablet.
"What is it?" Tony asked.
"A message," Steve replied. "Ultron killed Strucker. We think he's working with the Maximoffs, too."
Thor slammed the tablet into Tony's chest, making Tony step back a little.
Tony looked at the tablet and sighed. "He even did a Banksy at the crime scene."
"This is a smoke screen," Natasha said. "Why send a message when you've just given a speech?"
"Strucker must have known something," Steve said. "Something Ultron wanted us to miss."
"I bet he," Natasha started, and then stopped. "Yep. Everything we have on Strucker's been erased."
"Not Everything," Tony said.
Author's Note: I was planning on posting this chapter yesterday April 25th, 2021 but I got my first COVID vaccine and it knocked me on my ass a little bit. So here's chapter 7 and I'm hoping to get chapter 8 up today, too, to make up for not posting in a while and because I was supposed to have this one up yesterday.