Chapter 4: As They Came Into the Out-way…
Annie:
God, I wish Tony would get here faster. Until then I'm stuck with the frosted-tipped sourpuss.
Annie cast a glance over in the direction of the boy. He was pouting in the corner, arms folded and his back to her. She guessed that Tony had told him to stay put with her until he could get there, and obviously being proven wrong didn't thrill him.
Come to think of it Annie didn't even know the guys name.
Maybe is should try to be a little nicer to him. He did save me.
Annie rose to her feet a little unsteadily. He was still pouting.
Be nice Annie.
"Um…So I just wanted to," started Annie.
"There's no need to thank me, I was just doing my job." The boy turned to face her with a cocky smile plastered across his face.
The nerve! I mean sure I was going to thank him but to just assume. Ugh. This guy just pushes all my buttons.
"Well actually-"
Annie stopped because the jet door opened and four people walked in. Captain America, a young girl and a guy with a bow and arrow stepped into the jet, and bringing up the rear was…
"TONY!" Annie yelled, the Iron Man armor opened up and Tony stepped out of it with open arms. Annie couldn't help herself she ran into his arms hugging him fiercely.
"Red!" Tony said hugging her back. Then he held her at arms length surveying her closely.
"What did they do to you Annie?" Tony asked his eyes landing on her wrists that still had the metal cuffs on them. Anger flashed across Tony's face.
"Lets get these off you" said Tony throwing up his hand the Iron Man suit glove flew to incase his hand.
"Cool trick, I see you've made some upgrades since I saw you last." Annie said with a half smile.
"You two know each other?" Asked Captain America,
"Yeah she was an intern at Stark Labs three years ago…" Replied Tony as the Iron Man glove went to work on the wrist cuffs, then onto the cuffs on her ankles
"Has it really been three years?" her eyes widened, as she rubbed her wrists.
" I thought you might have been one of the hundreds that were lost in the battle of New York!" Said Tony.
"The battle of what?!" exclaimed Annie.
"New York was kind of attacked by Aliens," said the guy with the bow.
"Hawkeye really! Lets ease her into this!" Snapped Tony.
"Aliens…" Annie let that sink in.
"Annie maybe you should sit down well explain all of this when we get back to the tower." Tony said quickly, leading Annie over to one of the jets bucket seats and strapping her in.
The Hydra compound had been in the European countryside so the flight took a few hours in the super high tech jet. Annie slept through most of it. For the parts she was awake she surveyed this team of avengers or whoever. So to recap there was Captain America, who apparently as Tony put it, had been a Cap-sickle for fifty years only to be found and woken up by Shield. The tall archer guy was called Hawkeye, or Clint. The girl was named Wanda and she was frosted tip's twin, or Pietro or whatever his name was. Apparently there were even more of these Avenger guys back at Stark tower. Which was now being called Avenger's tower now.
God I have a lot to catch up on.
The jet touched down on the towers airstrip and Annie unbuckled herself from the seat. And the jet door opened as the others filed out. Pietro glanced back at her but she kept her eyes down.
"Annie we are going to take you straight up to my lab to run some tests and see just what they did to you in there." Started Tony.
"Oh no you don't Tony!"
"PEPPER!" yelled Annie, Pepper was standing in the doorway, Annie ran and embraced her.
"When tony told me it was you they rescued I got a room all ready,"
"Pepper please I need to run some tests on her-" Tony tried again,
"Not before this poor girl has a shower, some new clothes and a rest!" Pepper had a look on her face that said 'go ahead try to challenge me'.
"Okay fine but after you're good and rested we'll run some tests."
"Its really okay Pepper-" Protested Annie.
"No! No! you need to rest after all you've been through!"
"Alright fine" Annie was lead away by Pepper into the tower.
Pepper led her through the tower and into the elevator. Just as the elevator started to close a blur shot past the doors.
"Ladies." It was Pietro.
"How the-" started Annie.
"He's fast." Said giving an eye roll and a small smile.
Pietro looked at Annie and winked then turned back around.
Did he just wink at me?!
Annie's face went red, was it from anger or embarrassment?
Who cares? Anger. Yeah lets go with that one…
The elevator dinged and Annie followed Pepper. Pietro had stayed in the elevator and pushed another button as the doors closed again.
"Annie I had a room made up for you," said Pepper as an electronic star-trek like door whooshed open.
It was a gorgeous room with a huge view of the city, a king bed with what looked like satin sheets, and an adjoining bathroom.
"Whoa." Said Annie, and suddenly she was exhausted again her whole body ached and all she wanted was a hot bath.
"There are fresh clothes in your size in the dresser, but we may need to get some smaller ones…" Pepper stopped, Annie knew what she meant. She had been skinny before but now she was nothing more than skin and bones.
"Its really okay Pepper, thank you." Annie said with a smile, Pepper pulled her into a hug and Annie felt tears on her shoulder.
"I'm just so glad that you're okay!" Pepper sniffled.
"I'm fine Pepper, really." Pepper pulled back and searched her face as if to see if she was telling the truth.
"I think I'm going to take a bath and have a quick nap." Said Annie, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.
"Okay well if you need me just ask Jarvis, okay?"
"Alright I will." Pepper wiped her eyes and left the room.
Annie walked over to the huge tub and turned on the water as hot as it would go.
I haven't had a hot bath in ages.
There was some lavender soap on the counter and Annie dumped half the bottle into the steaming water. A large bubble layer formed and Annie lowered herself in.
The hot water was scolding but Annie didn't care.
Let it burn away all the filth and grime of that horrid place forever.
Annie grabbed a washcloth and scrubbed at her wrists and ankles where the cuffs had left marks. A line about an inch thick encircled each or her wrists and ankles.
It won't. Come. OFF.
"Damnit!" Exclaimed Annie, scrubbing harder.
They wont come off, because they're scars.
Annie gave up and dropped the washcloth, she sank down into the water until only her nose and eyes were above the bubbles.
She bathed until her fingers pruned up and the water got cold. Then she drained the tub and moved into the walk in shower that was also in her room.
She rinsed off the bubbles and washed her hair.
God how I've missed shampoo!
Annie scrubbed the dirt from underneath her fingernails and shaved her legs and underarms. She got out of the shower and wrapped an overly plush towel around her. It could almost wrap around her twice.
Pepper had laid out an array of various hygiene products on the counter top, so Annie selected and fine toothed comb and began the task of working on the giant knot that was her hair. It took about an hour, and hurt like hell but when she was done she could tell some of the shine had returned to her hair.
Annie found some lavender lotion and put that on as well.
She was starting to feel like herself again.
Except for those damn scars. They just wouldn't go away.
Annie walked over to the dresser that Pepper had pointed out. It was filled with tee shirts, jeans, bras, underwear, yoga pants, and sweatshirts. She selected some plain undergarments and a pair of soft denim jeans, and slipped them on. They were a bit big and they kept falling. Finally Annie grabbed on of the pairs of yoga pants instead.
At least these wont fall down.
She grabbed the first shirt she saw which was a grey 'Stark Industries' long sleeve tee shirt.
She made her way over to the bed and flopped down, breathing in the satin sheets.
They smell like fabric softener.
Annie drifted off to sleep on top of the bed sheets.
She thought she heard the curtains rustle as if they were blown by something but it could have just been her imagination.
Hours later Annie awoke to find herself cozy and warm under the covers of her bed.
Authors Note: Sorry for how late this post is it was too nice out today to sit indoors and write! But here is chapter four as promised. Chapter five is in the making and I promise there will be more about Annie's powers, and more Pietro moments. They have to ease into this ya know? Thank you for all the supportive reviews they really push me to update quicker!