Shadowed Past: Visions of Affliction
Chapter 8: Brace Yourselves, Winter is Coming
First Person POV
I awoke the next morning sitting up in bed, with Steve's strong arms wrapped around my frame. My head was resting on his shoulder, and the blankets were covering us both up to the waist.
I studied Steve's features, and he looked tough, ready for a fight. His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration, and his jaw was clenched tight. I noted the nearly dry tear stains running down his cheeks and used my thumb to wipe them away.
"Steve?" I whispered, as he started to stir.
"Are you feeling better honey?" He quickly asked, his voice groggy.
"Yeah, yeah I'm okay."
"What was your nightmare about?"
"The purple man again, and, those weird stones..."
"Maybe we should tell someone about that. Do you think they know what they are?"
"Yes, but who? They might think I'm going crazy and send me howling to the nuthouse."
Steve chuckled gently at my phrase. "I think you'll be fine."
"Did you have a bad dream last night?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"When I woke up there were tear stains on your cheeks."
"Oh," He muttered, looking down.
"Steve, its okay to talk about it. What's wrong?"
"I don't know. Seeing you in so much pain last night, it just got me upset. You were having trouble breathing, and your body was in full on panic mode."
"Is that all?"
Silence.
"Steve..." I said gently. "You can tell me anything."
"I thought about Sam and Piper off in DC, and then I thought about Bucky and I just," he shrugged, "lost it I guess."
"We're going to find him, and make this all better again."
"But what if he's already dead?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Bucky I knew, he's gone. I don't think any kind of science could fix all of the torture they put him through."
"He might not get all of his memory back, but I know he will remember you. You were each other's world, he'd remember you before anyone or anything else."
"I guess you're right, I just worry sometimes."
"Everything will be okay. I promise." I said, smiling weakly.
Steve reciprocated my action, before pulling me into a warm and comfortable hug.
Third Person POV
Piper awoke to the smell of eggs and the clanking of pots in the kitchen.
"Is he making breakfast?" She chuckled to herself, throwing her legs over the side of the bed.
Piper quickly fixed herself up the bathroom, making her hair presentable and splashing her face with cold water.
"Morning," She said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, good morning. Do you like eggs? I mean, there's plenty of other stuff to make I just assumed-"
"No, no, eggs are great. I haven't had real homemade eggs since Stark Tower." Piper grinned, sitting down at the table.
"Yeah, the ones at the base are nasty."
"It's that fake powdered junk..." Piper trailed off.
"Yeah, the food there is just terrible. Considering for all of the money put into it, its clearly not put into the grocery trips, huh?"
"Totally." Piper responded as Sam brought their plates to the table and sat down across from Piper.
"So, did you do what you needed to do yesterday?"
"Huh? Oh yeah! I did. It's all good."
"Now, I'm just curious, and you don't have to elaborate, but, I could tell the family thing was a lie."
"Yeah, um, it's for Alex."
"Oh, all of her vision problems?"
"Hmmhmm, you know about that?"
"Steve elaborated a little, but, not a whole lot."
"We're trying to find an answer, and, this weird clue thing we found gave us coordinates to DC."
"Weird clue thing? I deal with those all of the time." Sam joked.
"Oh really?" Piper snickered.
"Yeah, totally. But, for real, you're good?"
"Yep, ready to head back as soon as you are." Piper grinned.
"So much for whole weekend then." Sam chuckled.
"Yeah, I know. But hey, I don't mind being away from that base. Like, at all."
"Agreed."
There was silence for a moment as the two ate before Sam spoke up.
"Well I'm gonna go check out the stuff I need to check out after this, do you mind laying low until I get back?"
"Sure! I need to call Alex anyways. She's probably worried."
About 20 minutes later, Sam was running Piper through everything in case of an emergency.
"Okay, so, if something happens and people try to break in or they do break in, there's a pistol under each mattress or cushion and extra ammo hidden in the each potted plant."
"Oh, so that's why you have so many plants..." Piper muttered. "Do you think I'll be okay?"
"I think everything will be fine. I'm just taking precautionary measures, that's all."
Piper nodded. "Be safe." She said softly as Sam began to head towards the door.
"I will. You too." He grinned warmly before leaving.
After he was gone, Piper stood in the silence of the apartment.
Piper made the decision to call Alex, figuring it would be best to have someone to talk to so she didn't get scared.
"Hello?" Alex's voice emitted from the phone speaker, calming Piper's nerves instantly.
"Alex! I miss you so much! How have things been?"
"Fine, how have things been with Sam? Did anything happen?" Alex asked.
"No, not yet. But he's so nice and really funny!"
Alex chuckled. "I'm assuming he's not around?"
"No, he went to go check out a call about Bucky."
"Oh, and did you-"
"Yes! I found something!" Piper shouted.
"Oh my gosh no way! Tell me!"
"Okay, so, I found another journal page and..." she trailed off.
"And what?! Piper you're killing me here!" Alex shouted.
"A crystal!"
"A what?"
"A crystal! It's really pretty, but I'm not sure what it's for yet. It was hidden behind the journal page in another secret compartment."
"Secret compartment? How did you find that?"
"Well I was looking at all of the names on the wall and I noticed that Jasper Sitwell's was there. He didn't die at the location of the triskeleton and I only you, Steve, Sam, Nat and I would've known about that. And then that jumble of numbers under the coordinates also linked up with his death number and they were to the combination inside."
"Piper! You're a genius!"
"I try." Piper sighed.
"What did the journal page say?"
"Howard basically made peace with your mom and had gotten over her and he mentioned about having access to power that no other man could have? And something about directing their children's children? I don't know."
"That's weird. I'll have to read it when you come back. Any clues on where to look next?"
"No. But we still have to find case file #1125, whatever that's going to say. Maybe it will have another clue?"
"I don't know. I can't imagine where else to look!"
'What about Tony?"
"What?" Alex deadpanned.
"Why not? If Howard kept this journal he probably kept more. Tony probably has them. You know how stuff gets handed down to people's next of kin."
"Yeah but SHIELD might have taken them already."
"We don't know that. Give it a try!"
"Piper, I can't ask Tony, Steve would kill me if I brought him into this mess..."
"Just lie. Don't say that it involves all of this other stuff and say that you're finding an old file for me since I'm out of town this weekend."
"Piper..."
"Alex, we need answers. Think about it. You're not getting any better and these pages are leading us somewhere. It's like he left them for us, Als. Do this for yourself. Do it for us! I can't live without you, Steve would crash and burn without you..." Piper's voice cracked over the phone and hot tears began to condense in her eyes.
"Okay, I'll ask Tony." Alex sighed. "Take it easy, and stay safe. I miss you!"
"I miss you too. Love you," Piper replied.
"I love you too." Alex grinned, hanging up the phone.
First Person POV
"I guess it's time to talk to Tony." I sighed.
I looked down at the phone, staring at the illuminated numerals before me. I exhaled deeply before dialing Tony's number and holding the phone up to my ear.
After only three rings, the other end of the line answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Tony, what's up?"
"Well its been forever since I've heard your voice! How's the misses doing?"
"Good, I guess."
"Well that didn't sound enthusiastic."
"I know, it's been rough. I can't lie."
"Something bugging you? You don't call me very often. Not with Capsicle there."
I paused.
"I need your help with something."
"You need my help with something?" Tony asked, surprised.
I nodded, taking a second to realize he couldn't actually see me.
"Yes." I replied softly.
"Is this about Steve? Is he not trying new methods like I asked him to?"
"What? New methods? Tony! You guys are gross!"
I heard him snicker over the phone line, and I could just see his sly grin in the back of my head.
"Wipe that grin off your face! Now seriously, do you think you could help with something?"
"Well, that depends on what it is. I'm not helping you terrorize anybody and I'd rather not be involved in any revolutionary way, shape and or form."
"No, nothing like that. I've been going through some old papers for Piper this weekend since she's away, and some of the papers had your dad's name on them."
Silence. "So, what are you asking me?" Tony questioned.
"Do you think I could look through some of the old things your dad handed down to you to see if I can find out anything else?"
"What kind of papers are we talking here?"
"I don't know, but Piper's boss is making me find the rest of them."
"How do you know there's more?"
"They've got numbers on them, like, three out of five type thing?" I said.
"I've got some old boxes of his somewhere. I'll dig them out, where and when should we rendezvous?"
"Safest place would probably be where you're at. Could I come down tomorrow?"
"Sure, is anybody else coming with you?"
"I don't know yet, why?"
"I was just wondering. Maybe it's something better we do alone?"
"Why, is something wrong?"
"No...I just-" He stammered.
"You don't want Steve coming, do you?"
"I never said that."
Neither of us spoke.
"I'll start heading your way. See you in a couple of hours?"
"Sure, yeah. I'll uh, see you later." I said has whole-heartedly as I could.
"Stay safe, kiddo."
"You too, nerd." I grinned.
I hung up the phone and felt a wave of relief wash over me, but a tsunami of worry brewing inside my head.
Third Person POV
Piper was still alone at Sam's apartment, and she was starting to worry. Sam had been gone for almost four hours, and he never really specified when he'd be back. Piper knew that it was something about finding Bucky and that made her worry. What if there'd been an attack? What if Sam actually found Bucky and Bucky strangled the crap out of him? What if-
Piper's rapidly wandering mind was interrupted by the phone ringing.
She ran over and answered it without haste.
"Hello?" She panted.
"Hey, it's Sam. Are you alright? You don't sound okay."
"I'm just worried! Where are you?!"
"I'm getting ready to head back. It was a false alarm."
Piper felt her muscles ease into a relaxing state at his words. "Okay, when do you think you'll get back?"
"Maybe another hour or so. But I won't be too long, I promise."
"Alright, see you soon."
"Bye." Sam chuckled.
"Men really know how to freak a woman out. Not to mention ones involved with saving the world. Good grief." She muttered to herself as she walked back to her room.
First Person POV
Tony had picked me up in his convertible, and now we were back at his own "temporary base". It resembled a luxury house, much like the one he used to have in Malibu. I told Steve about my little trip, and he seemed a little tense about it. It took a little persuasion, but he finally agreed to let me go alone.
"A few boxes?" I gaped as we walked into what was the main room. A massive pile of old boxes was in the center of the room, with at least 30 decent sized cardboard containers in the mix.
"Yeah, that's not that many."
"Your definition of 'few' is completely screwed!" I half-laughed. "This is gonna take hours!"
"Well, we better get started then." He said, walking towards the pile.
I scoffed, following his lead.
After hours of searching through box after box, I finally stumbled on some papers that looked like the ones I needed.
Entry #3
August 3rd, 1980
Things have changed much in the past few months. Lucy has returned to my side, as Dexter treated her as nothing but a lab rat. She explained to me some of the works she completed with Dexter, and I laugh. He has resorted to robots of all things. Lucy and I's relationship has been restored. She is a beautiful woman, one with great talents. We have been working well together in the lab, and many advancements in my research have been made. This ancient power I have access to gives me more power than any scientist or mortal has ever dreamed of. I must end this note, as Lucy and I have plans for late tonight.
"What are you staring at?" Tony spoke up.
"It's one of the papers."
"Let me see."
I wanted to blurt out, "Why?", but I knew I couldn't. There was no reason for me to not give Tony the paper. It belonged to his father.
"Alex, what are you hiding from me?"
"Nothing, I just, the way he wrote this...Maria wasn't your biological mother, was she?"
"No. But she was my mom."
"Yeah, I get that much. Did you ever know your birth mother?"
"No, Howard said she left him not long after I was born."
"What year were you born?"
"Alex! Quit the twenty questions and give me the sheet already!" Tony was getting frustrated.
"Answer me first."
"May 29th, 1970!"
"So you were ten when this was written...and I'm ten years younger than you..."
It all fit.
I never met my father. Mom said that she was attacked and I was conceived that way. But that didn't make sense. Mom would never let someone do that to her. Not with her powers.
Tony never met his birth mother. Unless he did, and just didn't know it.
"Tony, I think we're related." I breathed.
"What?!" He snapped. "Alex! You're out of your mind!"
"Think about it, Tony! You never met your mother, and this note is indicated that my mom and your dad got busy quite often! I never met my dad, and this was written about a year before I was born!"
Tony looked at me with an expressionless face.
"They were lab partners. More than that apparently. That's why we're looking for these notes. He left behind these journal pages, and, he was helping my mother with her abilities, that got transferred to me through her. It all makes sense."
"But why didn't they tell us?"
"I have no idea." I breathed.
Tony and I shook off the idea of being related for the moment, and went back to searching. We could solve that problem later.
I stumbled upon another journal page, and a file along with it.
Entry #4
October 2nd, 1980
Lucy and I have come much closer to our goal. We have condensed our research to the most important and necessary facts. Now we work on getting out hands on this magic. We will need the work of a god to complete our mission. Well, my mission. I love Lucy dearly, but she does not agree with my plan. I need to convince her that this is the only way to make sure that her genes will someday save the world, generation after generation.
"These notes are getting weirder and weirder." I muttered to myself, setting the old piece of paper aside.
There was another sheet below it.
File #: 1125
Seidr
I inhaled sharply, the word causing my mind to freeze when my eyes scanned over the ink it was written in.
Suddenly, flashes of my vision of the purple man popped back into my head.
The purple man sat upon his throne, with the golden armor and his wicked smile.
Five stones appeared. Green, blue, purple, red, orange, and yellow.
Mind, reality, soul, space, time, and power.
A crystal flashed into vision next.
And then Piper.
"Alex!" Tony shouted, shaking me violently.
I looked up into his eyes, and felt my head become heavy as my consciousness returned to reality.
"What's wrong?" He asked sternly, staring into my eyes.
I quickly looked down at the document and saw that all of the words were in Norse.
"I need to go." I breathed.
"You're not going anywhere! You're eyes just freaking turned red! Like, red red!" Tony shouted.
"I don't care. I need help."
"Alex, listen to me,"
"Tony!" I screamed, a wave of energy shooting away from my body on all sides. Tony almost lost his balance, but regained it quickly. He looked like he'd seen a ghost. I looked to my left to see my own reflection and could see why he was horrified. The red was surging through my veins, much brighter than the last time they'd illuminated. My eyes were still glowing bright, the whites of my eyes now black.
I took a deep breath and all of the red faded away, and my eyes returned to normal.
"Alex," Tony began softly.
I turned to him, my hands shaking.
"You're sick. And you're not going to get any better without some help."
Tony took me back to the Avengers Base in Upstate New York in the blink of an eye. Steve was waiting for us in the hanger when we got back.
Steve ran up to me and wrapped his arms around my form. "It's gonna be okay," He muttered, shooting a glare at Tony over my shoulder.
"We need Thor. Or somebody who can read Norse." Tony said plainly.
Tony handed Steve the papers and I could feel the hateful tension between them rising quickly.
"Luckily I got a hold of him while you were gone." A voice spoke up from behind. We turned around to see Nat standing there. "We should really have each other on speed dial. That would help a lot." She muttered as we all followed her inside.
Tony placed the document on the table and we all gathered around Thor.
"Well, what's it say?" I asked frantically.
"I haven't gotten the chance to read it yet." Thor replied, looking up at me with furrowed eyebrows.
"Sorry." I muttered, shaking my head.
Thor looked down at the sheet and began focusing on it intently.
"Oh no..."
"What is it?!" I gasped.
"Thor..." Steve warned.
"I must speak with the Captain's wife about this...alone." Thor said, his eyes not leaving the paper.