Chapter 5
Orange lights the color of fire danced across my skin. I felt young and free in an off-the-shoulder red dress that flowed around me with heels to match. I was on a stage, standing elegantly in front of a crowd. The year was 1938, it was a year before the war began and nearly a decade into the Depression. People loved to come to these places to listen to music and dance, and I loved coming here to sing. Even if I wasn’t getting paid.
I was still living in Baltimore at the time and I was up there singing something that Bing Crosby had been singing on the radio. He had some wonderful songs for slow dances. The new year would be arriving soon and everyone was bubbling with anticipation that maybe this year would look up.
I had a smile on my face and music in my soul. I love music.
The happiness of this time quickly left me as the memory swiftly moved to me standing at a funeral in front of a podium. The gravestone beside me read Dorothea L/N. Tears streamed down my face as a man pulled me away.
The dream changed again and I was in a house. I was standing in front of that same man, and I felt sad still. He was speaking to me, but I was being drowned in my own sorrow. I was starting to wake up when I finally heard what he said.
You need to stop singing.
I awoke startled. I had tears on my face and was breathing heavily. Once I had calmed down, I peeled myself out of my sheets. I put on some clothes that weren’t sweat-soaked and looked at the clock. It was 7 am. I didn’t know how many people would be up, but I headed downstairs anyway.
The tower was still quiet as I headed down the stairs. Even though it wasn’t that early, no one was up. They must not have anything to do today. I walked into the kitchen area to grab a glass of water when I heard the elevator ding. I looked over to see Steve and Bucky exiting in what seemed to be workout gear. I stayed quiet, hoping they wouldn’t notice me, but that was far too hopeful of me. They came into the kitchen area where Steve greeted me.
“Y/N! Hey, how did you sleep?” He said softly.
“Fine.” Something in me was not in the mood to talk. I was never in the mood to talk, actually.
“Why’re you up so early?”
“It’s not that early.” My tone came out harsh, but it didn’t faze him.
“I suppose you’re right. Most in the tower would say waking up before 8 is, but I think waking up before 6 is.” He moved to sit on one of the bar stools. Bucky followed silently.
I gave the two a fake smile and moved to the couch. Everything pretty much faced a large black screen, but I couldn’t tell what it was. I looked at it with confusion, which Steve noticed.
“Oh, yeah. That’s a TV. You already know what that means, but this is like a crazy modern one that Tony bought recently.” I really wish this man would just leave me alone.
I hummed and got up, moving to go back upstairs and to my room. I couldn’t even do that, of course, without being stopped by the blonde.
“Where are you headed to?”
“My room.” I responded curtly. “No offense, but it’s too loud and I don’t feel like talking.”
He didn’t say another word as I ascended the staircase and went to my room. I didn’t have any time to myself before another voice interrupted my peace. It was the robot from before.
“Miss L/N, your presence is requested for breakfast at 9.”
“Okay?” I looked around, wondering where the voice was coming from. “What even are you?”
The robot responded quickly. “I am JARVIS. Tony Starks personally built AI system.”
“I’m gonna pretend that I know what that means.” I sighed and looked at the clock. It was just before 7:30. That meant I had an hour before I had to get ready.
I looked around the room, hoping to find something far more interesting than before. The books on the shelf were nothing I’d heard of, but I would still read them since there was nothing better to do. The dresser and closet were filled with different assortments of clothes with room for more, and there was a desk and chair by the window. In front of the bed was another television. I remember these needing a remote, so I rummaged through some drawers until I found it in the nightstand. Good god, there were so many buttons.
Eventually, I figured out how to operate it with help from the manual that came with it. It was 8:15 now. Time seemed to move so slowly. I started to get ready early, and once I was dressed I sat down in front of the TV and tried to find something to watch. My only problem was that I didn’t know what was good, but my mind didn’t stay on that topic as I had five minutes before breakfast.
I headed downstairs for the second time that morning, but this time everyone was up. I immediately located my chair and sat while I waited. Everyone was talking around me, and I’m glad nobody had tried to include me. Once breakfast was over and I was getting ready to leave, I was stopped.
“Oh, by the way, Y/N. We need to take you shopping today, so be back soon.” Tony spoke.
“Why do I need to go shopping?”
He looked at me with a downturned gaze. “So that we can pick you up a few necessary items like a phone, clothes, some decor even.”
“Do I have to?”
Sam gave a quick laugh and looked at me. “We all had to, so you do too. He secretly loves having his people feel at home.”
Tony gave a sarcastic laugh and started to call someone. It’s weird that phones look like that now. Instead of heading back up to my room, I sat down on one of the couches and waited. Once Tony was done on the phone he came over and ushered me to him.
“Would anyone else like to come with?” He asked.
Most of the people in the room shook their heads, but Steve and Sam both had agreed to go as well, which I wasn’t exactly excited about. Steve was always asking me questions, and Sam was probably just as annoying as him. I looked over to Bucky and saw him staring at Steve. If I read his gaze correctly, it had screamed “No please don’t leave me here” but Steve didn’t seem to care.
***
We had been in the mall for hours already and I was really starting to get tired. I already got a phone and a music player as far as technology goes and we had headed into multiple decor shops, but I couldn’t find anything I liked. Tony had started to hound on me about finding something or he’d pick for me. The only good decor that I liked had been a new set of bedsheets, and a patterned rug. Steve told me to try to go for a modern feel, but I wasn’t liking any modern choices. I did end up finding a nice standing lamp that I thought was nice, but I put an end to that pretty quickly.
The moment I stepped into the clothing store I stood baffled. Sam laughed at my appearance while catching up with Tony who ran off. Steve came up beside me and lowered his head to see my face better.
“Everything okay? I know this can be a lot.”
I walked further into the store, looking through what it had to offer. “I guess I’m just really used to dresses and modesty, which is not this. I mean the most scandalous thing I ever owned was an off-the-shoulder dress, but even that was floor length.”
“Yeah, it was shocking to me too.” Steve laughed at me. “Is that why you’re wearing that?”
I had put on the only thing I found suitable to go out in. A long blue skirt, and a jacket to match. There were even some heels that I found that went nicely with it. I figured this was a winning outfit.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Oh, there’s nothing wrong with it! You look very ladylike, it’s just that I don’t often see women in skirts anymore.”
“Well, what do they wear?” I threw my hands up in frustration.
He looked at me in thought. “Whatever they want I guess. They usually wear pants, though.”
I let out a few ha’s without letting a smile rest on my face.
He smiled down at me and started to lead me through racks of clothes. “I’ll help you out for now.”
I stayed silent after that. The only words that were exchanged were yes’s and no’s to whether or not I’d be buying something. I was officially sick and tired of shopping, so I forced everyone to leave. I hope I never have to do something like that again.