Chapter 7: Just Tinkering
(Alexis's P.O.V)
Slowly sleep loses its hold on me as I feel myself returning to the world of the living. There was something big and soft on me. It felt like I was on a cloud. Rolling over onto my back, I hear a rustling sound...like sheets. This confuses me since I was rarely allowed to have sheets at home. Finally, I open my bleary eyes and sit up, yawning. Rubbing my eyes in an attempt to take the sleepiness away, I blink several times before my eyes are clear to see. I gasp. I was in a huge bed. In a huge, fancy room. In a place, I can't remember. Turning my head wildly, trying to make some sort of sense of it all, I finally remember Pepper and the Avengers.
"Wow," I giggle softly as I stare around the room. Fighting the sheets, I escape from them and stand up in the middle of the bed. Looking down at myself, I see that I'm wearing a huge black shirt that goes down to my knees. Someone had obviously come in and changed me when I was sleeping. I hope it was one of the girls.
I pull the shirt up and see that I do have light pink shorts on. They are a bit big but thankfully they have laces so I quickly tie them. I tuck the front of the shirt in so I can run and walk comfortably. Looking up, I scan the room. Everything in the room looked really expensive and the main colour scheme was my four favourite colours. Blue, black, silver and gold. The walls were too white I thought, wrinkling my nose. Giggling, I jump off the bed and land on the soft, white carpet that my feet immediately sink in to.
"This is amazing," I laugh as I start spinning around my room. I near the windows and look out. I was so high up. "I can't believe I am here," I whisper as I place a hand on the glass window pane. "How is this real?" I wonder aloud.
Turning away from the window, I look towards the door and skip over to it. As I near the door, I stop and stare at it. Should I go out there?, I wonder. My curiosity won along with my desire to see more. To explore and find all the secrets of this tower.
Mother always said I was an extremely curious child. Always wanting to find out why and how something worked or what was down that road or that hall. We had quite a few adventures due to that.
Reaching for the door handle, I open the door slowly. I peak my head out and check if anyone was in the hall, but thankfully no one was. Creeping out, I scamper down to the elevator. Only the soft padding of my feet accompanied me down the hall. Pressing the button for the elevator, I wait impatiently for it to reach my floor. As soon as the doors open, I jump in and look at all the buttons. Deciding the roof would be a good place to start I press it and laugh as I shoot up. I'd never been this high before so I wanted to see the view. I frown as I think about the Avengers. I hope that they won't be angry when they see that I'm not in my room.
As I feel the elevator slow down, I start to bounce with excitement. The moment that the doors open, I run out on to the roof balcony. The smooth gravel underfoot crunches with every step I take. Looking up at the sky, I spin around as I breathe in the air. Prancing over to the railing surrounding the roof, I laugh as I look out on the city. I felt like I was on top of the world. I look around the rooftop, checking if anyone was around, before leaning over the edge to look at the people below. There were millions of people and cars. Everyone looked to be in rush. Always needing to be somewhere other than the place that they were. Never having enough time to stop and enjoy the moment.
"They look like ants," I whisper softly to myself. A warm breeze flows through my messy hair. I stand up as tall as I could on the edge and lean against the railing, spreading my arms out. The breeze starts getting stronger whipping my hair out behind me.
"I'm flying," I yell with a huge smile on my face. I felt free. I felt like I could do anything at this moment. Like nothing but this moment mattered. Looking up at the sun, I realise that it must be nearing nightfall. Jumping back onto the roof, I skip back to the elevator, ready for more exploring.
I stand in the elevator, just staring at the buttons. There were so many to choose from. Finally, I decided on the 15th floor. I grip the side railings as I descend. The upwards feeling I liked, but downwards feeling not so much. The doors finally open and I carefully creep out. I try the first door but it was locked. I huff and carry on for about 3 doors down before I finally find one that's open. I do my victory dance in my head as I slowly push the door open. The room was swamped in darkness apart from the light emitting from the doorway. I feel along the wall for a light switch but I have no success. I sigh in disappointment.
"Would you like the lights on Miss?" A voice suddenly speaks from the darkness, making me jump and yelp in fright.
"W..who's..t...th..there?" I stutter, as I start to back slowly to the open door.
"There is no need to be alarmed. I am J.A.R.V.I.S. I'm the A.I. I run the tower. If you need anything just ask me and I will help you as best I can," J.A.R.V.I.S. informs me.
"Oh," I mumble, as I stop creeping back.
"Now would you like the lights on Miss?" He asks again.
"Yes please J.A.R.V.I.S," I whisper.
I jump again as the lights come to life. I was in what seemed to be a workshop. I walk forward slowly looking around. There were engine parts everywhere as well as tools. I look at the door and then back at the parts. I loved to build things. I was having a war in my head about whether or not I should tinker around with these or not. My creative side overpowered my cautious side so, quickly darting to the door, I slam it shut before darting back to a workbench. The benches all reached my chin.
"Consequences of being short," I huff and look around for a stool or chair. Spotting a stool under a box full of bolts, I scurry over to it and attempt to slide the box off carefully. However, the weight of the box proves to be too much for me to handle so I quickly have it crashing to the ground. A pain rips through my side as my healing injuries make themselves known. Taking a few deep breathes to work through the pain, I look at the box and see that, thankfully, the box stayed upright through its fall and no bolts had fallen out. Grabbing the stool, I drag it to where I plan to work. Climbing up carefully, I clear a space for me to work.
"J.A.R.V.I.S, can you play music in here?" I ask as I gingerly step down and start grabbing bits and pieces I will need for my project. I once read a manual on how to create a Yamaha PW 50 motor so now I'm gonna see if I can.
"What would you like to listen to Miss?"
"Do you have Skillet the Deluxe Awake Album?"
Skillet 'Hero' started playing as an answer, causing me to smile. Bopping my head slightly, I start making my motor.
I soon got caught up in making my motor, I didn't stop until I heard my stomach grumble. Pausing, I realise that I was actually quite hungry and that eating food would help to heal my injuries. I huff and ask JARVIS to stop my music. I was halfway done with my project and I really didn't want to leave but I knew that I needed food.
I step out of the room and close the door behind me. I walk two steps towards the elevator before a voice stops me.
"There you are." Someone exclaims from behind me. I turn around and see that it's one of the men from in the lounge. The one with the cool brown jacket. Wracking my brain for his name, I finally remember that it is Steve. He hurries over to my still figure.
"Hi," I whisper with a small wave.
"Hi," he smiles as he crouches down, "we have been looking everywhere for you, Alexis."
I frown and ask "Why?" I just couldn't understand why they would be looking for me.
"Because you weren't in your room so we got worried."
"Oh. I just wanted to explore," I mumble, looking at the ground. I see Steve's shadow raise his hand. Memories of my father race quickly into my mind, making me duck and crouched into a ball. As I curl up, I feel an attack coming on as I shelter in on myself waiting for the blow. Air starts getting harder and harder to breath in.
"Hey, it's okay. No ones angry at you." I hear Steve soothe. I nod my head as I try to push off the attack. I feel a hand rubbing my back softly as I finally calm down. I drink the air greedily as I turn and look at Steve. He smiles gently at me and asks if I'm alright. I nod and go to stand up. He holds out a hand for me to take. I stare at it before putting my shaking hand into it. His hand encloses over mine as he hauls me up.
"You okay?" He smiles down at me. I nod.
"Ummm can...can we...get food? I'm h...hun..gry," I ask quietly, looking at the floor. I really need to work on my eye contact I think to myself.
"Sure. I'll get you something to eat, just follow me. J.A.R.V.I.S. inform the others that I have found Alexis and we will be in the kitchen."
"Of Course, Captain."
"Thank you," I smiled softly up at him.
We walk to the elevator and he presses the 23rd floor. The doors shut and we start to ascend. I look at Steve out of the corner of my eye. He is still wearing the leather jacket. I really like that leather jacket. The elevator doors opened and I followed Steve through the lounge area and to the kitchen. Hopping up on a bar stool, I kick my feet back and forward as I watch Steve look through the cupboards.
The doors opened and I followed Steve through the lounge area and to the kitchen. Hopping up on a bar stool, I kick my feet back and forward as I watch Steve look through the cupboards.
"C...can I h...have an ap...apple please?" I ask cautiously. I see Steve reach into a cupboard and pull an apple out.
"Catch," he says as he tosses it to me. I catch it and bite into it. I smile and nod my head in thanks as I savour the taste. I quickly devour the apple as Steve pours a drink for himself. As I eat he drinks. I finish and start looking for a bin. I look at Steve and he opens a drawer revealing the bin. I toss the core and get it in. I giggle as Steve claps my shot.