Ivy here.
Yeah, our time at the farm was something I would rather forget. I don't mind saying it.
Jack's car had just enough seats for five. I was squeezed in between Edward and Ariel. I know this is going to sound really stupid, but I hate sitting in the middle. One person moves, you get pushed. And no one has any concept of personal space or legroom. It's super annoying.
All that is to say, it makes me super cranky.
After two hours of it, I was fed up with the whole situation and pleaded for them to stop.
We ended up in a grassy field by the edge of the road. The sun shone, the wind blew gently through the trees.
I wanted to scream from frustration.
We had found a Macdonald's about twenty minutes before and we had a picnic lunch in the grass, too far away from the road to be easily spotted but close enough we could make a break for the car if we had to.
Edward sprawled on the grass.
"You'll get stains all over your shirt," warned Ariel.
"I don't care. I have a jacket to cover it if I have to." He closed his eyes and smiled.
Miranda reached across and put her hand on top of Jack's. "I can almost forget everything right now."
"So can I." He smiled back at her.
"I wish we could stay like this forever." Her other hand shot out and tapped him on the shoulder. "Tag!"
She jumped up and ran, shrieking with laughter. Jack scrambled after her, a huge smile on his face.
They chased each other around in circles, screaming with laughter.
I wish I could be in love like they were. Unfortunately, relationships aren't something I excel at. Unconditional, free, puppy love is something I will never experience.
Edward rolled over.
Ariel smiled down at him and settled down on the grass a few yards away.
"I guess one or more of us will end up in Korea next?"
"I'll go," I said. "I have to find Carmen anyhow."
"You sound tired."
"I am tired. When this is over, I'm going to hire a good babysitter for Phillip and sleep for a month."
"Phillip... your son?" She looked deeply uncomfortable.
"Yes. You didn't tell them about what happened. I'm surprised."
"It's not my business to do that." She shrugged. "What was the other's name?"
"Natalia. I have people all over the world, in every world I've ever visited, watching for her. But I don't know what she looked like, or if those freaks changed her name."
"Natalia... after Natasha?"
"Of course." I lay down too, and stared at the sky. Turquoise, my favorite color, flecked with little cotton clouds. The sun warmed my cheeks. The definition of a golden afternoon.
Miranda collapsed next to me. "Have you ever read Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca?"
"I'm not much of a reader."
"You should, you'd love it."
"That's what you said about Les Miserables. That was the most boring book I've ever read. Not to mention the longest." It was a good book, and I understand why it's so popular. But it's so long. It starts with more than seventy pages of information about a random character who shows up once or twice. That's the rule, not the exception.
She groaned aloud. "I don't know why I bother. But in Rebecca, the main character mentions she wants to create a bottle that she can store memories in. Like the way we store perfume, and bring the scent out whenever we want it. I wish I had a bottle like that. I'd put this afternoon in it."
It had to end soon. Nothing lasts. Not situations, not people, not loyalty, not anything.
But it wouldn't be me who made it happen.
The last few years had been like grasping at crumbling ground, trying to prevent change. It was a wonder my awakening hadn't been ruder than it was.
Carmen here.
I'd never been to South Korea before.
It was different than what I was used to. A lot of tall buildings. Very modern, very new. I had grown up in small towns with lots of very old buildings. This was something new.
Not that I actually got to see much of it. We went straight to the lab.
Ultron went to find Dr. Cho and the humans dragged Sharon to a back room.
I supported Sharon's head as we walked.
"I didn't think she'd do that." Sharon's voice was hoarse. "I admit it. That was a surprise."
"I'm so sorry, I caused this to happen."
Sharon's chuckle turned into a hacking cough. "Well, I did agree to it. And I'll live, don't worry. Though I won't enjoy it very much for a while."
I let go with one arm and pushed a door open. The room was white and sterile looking, except for the couches. Some kind of room for socializing.
We set her down on one of the couches, her blood smearing the pale fabric instantly.
Wanda let go of her. "I'll go find a doctor. Ultron will have the building under control by now."
I sank down next to Sharon. "How do you feel?"
A fit of coughing. "I think I have a broken rib. Or three. She kicks harder than I remember. I would have thought she'd be glad to be rid of the child – she didn't seem the maternal type."
Admittedly, she didn't. "You underestimate how protective she is. It must transfer over."
"Maybe..." Sharon winced with pain and swore in French.
Ivy used to get very annoyed with Sharon for her cursing and swearing. I'd never heard Ivy use any sort of crude/rude/nasty language.
"Does it hurt to talk?"
"No more than it does to be alive right now. It keeps me conscious. It's not the worse I've ever been injured, though."
"What was the worst?"
"I got my face punched in by Grant Ward. After being hit by a car. Don't ask."
I winced. "Aren't you two on the same side?"
"The others in the room didn't know that."
Quicksilver sank down on the couch opposite us. "You're friends?"
"We're not." The words came out too quickly. Where had that come from? "We have a mutual friend." I spoke more slowly now, chosing my words more carefully. "Ivy."
His expression darkened. "Ah, yes. Her."
My cheeks burned. "She's a very nice girl, even if you won't believe it. She has one of the strongest moral compasses I've ever seen. She just doesn't react very well to being threatened, or seeing people she likes threatened. Apparently, finding out she's been betrayed doesn't agree with her. I know you won't believe this, but I've never seen her so violent before."
"For your sake, I hope not. I'm surprised she didn't try to hurt you."
"Ivy? Why, what have I done?" The answer hit me like a sack of bricks. I had betrayed her. Why had I forgotten? I rubbed my eyes. "She's got problems, but she has control over her aggression. Usually." But why hadn't I been beaten up like Sharon?
My eyes stung. My head ached.
"Are you alright?" Quicksilver sat up straight, looking at me with concern.
"I think I need some asprin or advil or something. I have a headache."
"I'll go find you some."
"Thank you."
The questions swirled around my sleep deprived mind.
The world slipped out from under me.
My head cracked against the floor.
"Are you alright?"
My memories flooded back, fully intact.
Quicksilver was helping me into a sitting position. "What happened? Are you alright?"
I clamped down hard on my panic and placed my hands on my eyes, rubbing again – there was tears of pain in them. "I'm fine. I think I just need to lie down for a while." I crawled up onto the couch.
"You hit your head – I'll get the doctor."
"Yes, maybe you should." I closed my eyes.
His footsteps hurried away.
I stood up and walked to the door, glancing both ways.
"What are you doing?" Sharon's voice was barely a whisper.
"I don't betray my friends when I'm not being mind controlled."
Sharon's face paled.
"I'm not vengeful, Sharon. Be glad of that." She made me physically sick. My stomach twisted and my head hurt – not just from hitting the ground. I wanted to cry and throw up and scream and break down all at once. But I did none of those things. "Goodbye. I'm sorry we couldn't make you like us."
"It wasn't liking you. It was just a job, what I do. Then it got personal after I failed. You were always so nice to me, though."
The confession made my resolve weaken for a moment.
"That's a very... expected thing for you to say. For someone who's been manipulating us. But you can't anymore. We'll never trust a word you say again." I spun on my heel. The world tilted and I fell against the doorway. Bad decision. "Anyhow, goodbye."