Over the next few weeks Tony and I spent a lot of time together, he took me to the malls and we saw a 3-D movie. He showed me how to use a cell phone, and how to properly use JARVIS. He took me to an amusement park too, it was all really fun and overwhelming too. The more time I spent with Tony the more I understood him, and even felt close to him. Pepper also took me to do a few things too, like getting my hair cut and painting my nails. She was very caring, and began liking them both very much. It was getting easier to be around them and even open up more too.
I still had nightmares more then I'd like to admit, sometimes I couldn't relax no matter what I did, I can't seem to remember that I'm safe now. Tonight was definitely one of those nights, I tossed and turned, got up and paced the room. I needed something to do, maybe someone to talk to for a while about anything.
"Hey JARVIS is Tony still up?"
"Yes ma'am he's in his work room, would you like me to give him a message?"
"No, just let him know that I'll be coming up."
"Yes Ms. Rogers." I left my room right after that and headed up stairs. I made my way to Tony's lab, stopping only to wait to be let in by Tony. I walked right up to his desk and took a seat next to him. Tony moved his head towards me and raised an eyebrow in question.
"What's up with you?"
"I just can't sleep at all. Memories keep playing in my head, they don't give me a break." I sighed exasperated.
"You want to talk about it?" He put his tools down and looked at me and shifted his body in my direction.
"No." I paused. "Yes." Tony smirked at my playfully, I rolled my eyes. "Yeah I do, it's just difficult."
"Well I don't sleep much anyways so we have all night, take your time." I bit my lip, thinking of a good place to start.
"I had this love, back before I was taken by Hydra, he went off to war. So did my brother. All I can think about tonight is how I never got to see them again. How disappointed and sad they must've been when they came back and found me gone, how lost they felt because they had no clue what happen to me.
Out of all that has happened to me personally, taking away what I've done for Hydra, that's what really eats me up. I never wanted them to hurt, especially because of me. I keep thinking about my time with my love, and how I promised him I'd wait for him. I broke that promise." I glanced down at my hands.
"You know that isn't your fault, you didn't choose for all that to happen to you." I closed my eyes and opened them to look at Tony in the eye.
"I know, but it still eats me up." Knowing that I really didn't want a response to that statement, Tony just puts a hand on my head to ruffle my hair and says,
"It's going to be okay kid." I gave him a hearty laugh.
"Kid? Tony I'm way older than you!"
"Well I'd totally keep that fact in mind, if only you didn't 20." I just shook my head at his silliness.
A few months passed before I knew it and I had a regular routine at the Stark residence. Get up, eat breakfast, work out in the gym room, see if Tony as up to do something that day, and then chill the rest of the day. And on a rare day Pepper wasn't working, we'd all go and have lunch, sometimes I'd let just Pepper and tony go. I knew they needed time alone too.
Today was a little different, apparently Tony had a friend from the avengers coming over. He told me about the battles that happened and them saving the world. Every time he told me a story about them, he always seemed to be leaving something out, but I never voiced my suspicions. Tony and I were in his living room watching a random channel on T.V when JARVIS's voice spoke.
"Mr. Stark, Dr. Banner had arrived."
"Thanks JARVIS!"
"No problem sir." The elevator dinged and doors slid open, a tall man with black and gray streaked hair wearing pants, a light blue dress shirt and a belt, Stepped out. Tony stood up to greet Dr. Banner.
"Hey there big guy, still staying angry?"
"Always Tony." Dr. Banner seemed annoyed at Tony's question and he push the square glasses that sat on his nose up in response. It made me giggle, drawing Dr. Banner's eyes to me. They widen a fraction before returning back to normal. I guess he was surprised to see a girl other than Pepper on Tony's floor.
"Tony can I talk to you in the kitchen for a moment?"
"Sure thing Banner." My eyes followed them as they stepped into the kitchen.
'That whole talk was very odd.' I focused back on the T.V, trying not to eavesdrop on the conversation in the kitchen. I hear the elevator ding again, but I don't turn around to see it open, thinking it's only Pepper. An angry voice yelled.
"Tony get out here!" Okay that's definitely not Peppers voice, it was far too manly and deep. It still was oddly familiar to me nevertheless. I whip my head to the man, gasping at who was standing there. Tony rushed out the kitchen door, before yelling 'shit!' The man turned his head to me.
"Arabella?"
"Steve?" My face tortes in confusion, he was supposed to be dead! Not standing here about to chew out Tony for whatever it is he did. I didn't move or blink, or even breathe. Well I think it's Steve, he still hasn't answered me, and he's way taller. He also has a lot of muscle now, but the way his eyes looks. He still had the same baby blue eyes, concerning and caring for others. I was positive it was him now.
"Welll this is awkward…" Tony trailed off his sentence. I scoff in disbelief.
"You knew!"
"I don't think that's the point right now, all that matters is you two are reunited after many years!" Tony motioned his hand back and forth between us. I took a step towards tony.
"Oh no, I confided in you, told you about my worries! All this time he was here, and you didn't even bother to tell me." I was livid and felt betrayed, he knew I felt guilty, I could've seen Steve and apologized. I could've told him what happened to me.
'Wait, how is he even here?' My thoughts screamed out to me. My eyes trailed over to Steve.
"How are you alive?"
"How are you?" Steve shot right back at me. We started each other down, waiting for the other to answer. Steve was the first to move his gaze and offer an explanation.
"When I was recruited for the war I signed up for a special program. The program turned out to be an experiment that made me into a super solider. As you can see." He gestured for me to give my reason.
"Hydra kidnapped me a month after you left and turned me into what you are." My answer was short and to the point. Steve snapped his eyes towards me, I could see the sadness, and a mixture of anger. He wordlessly moved around the couch and in front of me, pulling me in a bear hug.
"I missed you Arie. I thought you were dead." His voice broke as he told me.
"Me too Steve." I hugged him back hard, not wanting to let go, making sure it wasn't just a dream. How could It be, in my dreams Steve was my height and very skinny. This new brother, was not. He towered over me. The door to the kitchen opened again, and I released my hold on Steve. I find Dr. Banner and Tony standing side by side, watching us. Anger flows through me once again.
"Tony!" Tony's eyes go wide, and he put his hands up in a defensive position.
"Now just here me out Ara. I was just doing what S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted me to do."
"Since when do you do anything that S.H.I.E.L.D. wants you to do?!" I yelled outraged.
"Since I started to care about you!" He yelled back at me. I shut my mouth quickly. Running my hand over my face I sighed.
"Yeah I care about you like you were my own sister. I was going to tell you, I really was. But then S.H.I.E.L.D told me it be best not to; it would set your recovery back."
"How could knowing about my brother being alive possibly set me back?" This time I spoke in a dejected tone.
"Because you were going to resent him."
"What?"
"He didn't have to suffer the way you did to get here, that in itself really sucks. When you first woke up you were in a fragile state, who knows what throwing in an emotion like resentment towards your own brother could've done to you? We needed you to heal first, understand the situation, before we told you he was alive."
I understood where they were coming from, it was a logical reaction. That didn't mean I liked their excuse. I had to figure out what to do with these emotions on it. I could stay mad and add another reason for me to be tired and restless. Or I could let it go and forgive them, not for them but for myself. I decided on a middle solution to that.
"Okay, I get it. That doesn't mean I forgive you just yet, and I'm not completely calm with it. But... I get it."
"I'll take that." Tony smiled at me after he spoke. Shaking myself from my emotions, I moved back to Steve. I looped my arm through his, getting a sense of Deja-vu when I did so. Looking up at my brother, which was strange, I said to him.
"It's been forever, how about I make you something to eat and we can catch up." Steve smile down at me sweetly, before a look of realization crossed his face.
"I'd love that Arie, just let me talk to Tony and Bruce real quick and I'll meet you. Where do you live?"
"On the 12th floor, just take the lift down, the kitchen will be there as soon as you walk in."
"Oh so you've been staying here too?"
"That's right." I heard him mumble something under his breath that I couldn't hear, before I could question him he tells me to go to my place and that he'd meet me in a few. I nodded at him and walked towards the exit, seeing Tony and Dr. Banner standing there I remember I never introduced myself to him. Even if I was a warier person, had a dark past and some bottled up feelings. I never forgot my manners. It was a way to hold onto the old me. I stopped in front of him and held my hand out.
"Good to meet you, I'm Arabella." He looked shocked he peered up through his glasses, and took my hand to reply to my greeting.
"Nice to meet you to, Bruce." Smiling I let go of his hand and continued my way out.
"Wait I'll go with you, I need to get somewhere. I'll see you later Tony." Bruce stepped into the elevator. I pressed the button for the 12th and ground floor, I looked up to see Steve and Tony watching, I gazed back at them before the doors slid closed, their faces gone from my sight.