Amelie Stark - The Serum's Secret
Amelie Stark - The Serum's Secret
The sound of water cascading from the shower filled my ears as I stepped into the warm embrace of steamy mist. My muscles sighed in relief, the tension slowly being replaced by a soothing warmth that spread throughout my body. Despite my eyes being closed, I could still sense the delicate dance of the droplets on the tiled walls.
I tilted my head back, letting the water wash over my face and run down my hair, the waves now saturated. As the rivulets streamed down my skin, I thought about how quickly I had fallen asleep after our escape. It was as if my body had refused to go any further, plunging me into unconsciousness for two whole days.
My fingers traced the contours of my arms and shoulders. I hadn't had a chance to properly speak to Loki since Phoenix and I’d missed our conversations.
I stood under the shower for a few moments longer, revelling in the sensation of cleanliness that enveloped me. It was such a simple pleasure, one that I hadn't realised I'd missed so much until now. The steady stream of water cascading down my body carried with it an unsettling mix of blood and dirt swirling around my feet before being swallowed by the drain. I watched the water change from red to clear, each droplet washing away the memories of pain and fear that had clung to me like a second skin.
Bruce's voice echoed in my mind as I recalled him carefully cleaning and bandaging my wounds. Tony had hovered nearby, his brow furrowed with concern, offering words of comfort and promises of vengeance against those who had hurt me. It had taken Nat to forcefully remove him from my bedside so that Bruce could tend to him as well.
The warm water ceased, and tendrils of steam filled the room as I reached for a towel. Wrapping it around my body, I stepped onto the cold floor with a shiver. The contrast between the soothing heat of the shower and the chill outside was jarring, but it served to ground me in the present.
"Ah, finally clean." I whispered to myself, relishing the feeling of freshness that enveloped me like a comforting embrace. My skin tingled where water still clung and the scent of soap wafted through the air.
I padded over to the fogged-up mirror, wiping away the condensation to reveal my reflection. Though the dark circles under my eyes remained, my bruises had faded, leaving only faint traces of their previous existence. For the first time in days, I felt alive.
"Amelie?" A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, causing me to jump. "You okay in there?"
"Two secs, Bucky!" I called, clutching my towel protectively. "Just give me a moment to get dressed."
"Alright." He replied, his voice slightly muffled by the door. "But hurry up. We need to talk."
Bucky's tone unsettled me, his usual quiet demeanour replaced by an edge of urgency. Anxiety bubbled in the pit of my stomach, and I hastily dried off before pulling on some clothes.
As I opened the door, I found him standing there, his arms crossed and a crease between his eyebrows. His eyes were clouded with worry, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my heart racing.
"Come with me." He said, tersely. "There's something happening in the lounge that you need to see."
As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but wonder what could be happening that had Bucky so on edge. "Is it about Loki?" I ventured, unable to keep my concern for him contained any longer.
Bucky glanced at me sidelong before returning his gaze to the path ahead. "You'll see." He replied cryptically, only adding to my unease.
As we approached the main lounge, I caught snippets of a heated conversation - anger, frustration, and a tone that sounded something like... betrayal? My chest tightened with apprehension; whatever was happening had clearly struck a nerve among my friends.
"Stark, that is unfair!" Thor's voice rang out, booming and defensive.
"Fair?" Tony shot back, his voice laced with scorn. "You want to talk about fair, Thor? This is beyond fair!"
"Everyone, please!" Nat's voice cut through the din, attempting to restore order.
Bucky and I exchanged a worried glance as we finally entered the room. The air crackled with tension, and I found myself holding my breath. The scene before me seemed to fracture in slow motion, like a pane of glass shattering into jagged shards. Loki sat off to the side, his eyes glazed and distant as if he had retreated somewhere deep within himself. Thor stood protectively in front of him, his broad shoulders tensed, ready for confrontation.
Tony and Clint formed an opposing wall of anger and accusation, Bruce, Steve, and Nat slightly behind them. As I stepped into their line of sight, the weight of their fury threatened to knock me off balance. My chest tightened, and I tried to steady my breathing.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice cutting through the room like a whip. The arguing ceased, but the tension remained thick and heavy.
"Amelie." Tony began, his eyes dark with concern. "You shouldn't be here, you need to be resting."
Ignoring his warning, I asked again, slower and more firmly. "What. Is. Going. On?"
"Loki." Clint sneered, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "Is the reason we're all in danger."
"Clint." Thor warned, his hands balled into fists. "Do not lay blame where it does not belong."
"Everyone calm down." I insisted, feeling the heat of frustration rise within me. "Explain."
Bruce cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice quiet. "I went through the research papers you gave me. When Loki was last in New York, Erik Selvig accidentally found the basis for this serum while working under the control of the sceptre. It was never meant to go any further."
"Of course it was." Tony snapped, his face flushed with anger. "And now there's a weapon that can wipe minds clean – permanently! All because of him."
My stomach knotted painfully as I looked at Loki, still lost in his own world. "Wipe minds?" I asked, turning back to Tony. "What does that even mean?"
"It clears your mind, Amelie." Bruce said softly. "The serum replaces memories and opinions with whatever the user wants. It's an effective way of controlling people by quite literally changing their minds."
"Just like the sceptre did, only this time, it's irreversible." Tony muttered bitterly, his gaze fixed on Loki. "And we have him to thank for it."
I frowned at Tony's animosity towards Loki, feeling a wave of protectiveness wash over me. "Why are you so against him all of a sudden? What happened to helping him find his redemption?"
"Amelie, don't be naïve." Tony sighed, his fingers moving to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration. "He's given our enemies the worst weapon imaginable!"
"Amelie..." Bruce said softly. "The serum was created using elements derived from the Tesseract. It seems that when Loki had the Sceptre, an accidental discovery by Selvig led to the development of this research by the group from Phoenix."
I glanced at Loki, who sat silently, his eyes downcast... he looked vulnerable. "Are you suggesting..." I began, my voice faltering as I struggled to form the question. "That Loki is responsible for the creation of this... thing?"
"Indirectly, yes." Bruce confirmed, his expression forlorn.
I sighed, turning to my uncle. "Tony, just because the serum is based on something he helped create doesn't mean he intended for this to happen." I suggested, trying to keep my voice steady. "Loki has changed, and he's been helping us."
Clint stepped forwards slightly, his gaze distant. "The feeling of having everything that makes you, you pulled out... of having something else put in... It's not something that anyone should have to endure." He turned to Loki, his eyes glazing over with anger. "You never really changed, did you? You're still just a dangerous monster."
Before I could respond, Thor's booming voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Enough, Clint." His fists tightened, knuckles white, as he stepped protectively in front of his brother. "Loki is not the same person he once was. He has fought alongside us and helped to rescue Amelie. Do not let your anger cloud your judgment."
The anger that radiated from Thor made the room feel heavier, as if an invisible storm brewed within its walls. I glanced between my friends, my family, feeling the weight of their emotions on my chest. My heart raced in my ears, drowning out the silence that followed. I thought to myself, searching for the right words to diffuse the situation.
"We need to work together to stop this." I pleaded. "Not tear each other apart. And that includes helping Loki as well."
"Helping him?" Clint scoffed, disgust etched into the lines of his face. "After everything he's done?"
"Clint, we've all made mistakes." I reminded him, my heart aching at the thought of how much pain and suffering had brought us to this point. "But we're stronger together than we are apart."
The silence stretched between us, I could feel the precarious balance of trust and resentment teetering on the edge. We were fractured, yes – but not yet broken.
"Fine." Tony conceded, though the anger still simmered beneath his words. "But don't think for a second that I trust him."
I closed my eyes, only days ago Tony had been so supportive. All that time spent on helping Loki to find his place, to feel at home, gone. I pushed the immense feeling of loss aside and opened my eyes again.
"Trust or not." I replied, my voice steady. "We need each other right now."