The Avengers Tower
You remained in your bed, wide awake. After Natasha had carefully explained to you everything that had transpired in the last 72 hours, you feel numb. You pursed your lips not saying a word at all.
Avengers. I’m in the Avengers’ tower. Not in the doctor’s lab…
Natasha left you after some time, saying about bringing you some food. Food will be nice…
At the mention of the food, you noticed how hungry you were. Clutching at your hungry stomach, you won’t come to care if it’s just another tasteless food.
When Natasha came back, you don’t recognize the items she brought back except for one. You stilled at the sight of it. You jerked your gaze away from it and concentrated on your hands.
“Here you go, I hope you like pb & j sandwich since it’s the only food available at the moment.” Natasha handed you a plate of what she said. You don’t even know what that is but it sounded and looked better than anything you had.
You brought the sandwich on your lips and warily took a bite from it. You can’t help but moan at the taste. You took your time relishing the meal, forgetting your companion for a moment.
Natasha cleared her throat. Looking up from your sandwich to face her, you hinted a faint blush on her face.
“We have some questions for you. I’m afraid my other companions won’t take your silence as an answer.” You nodded meekly at her. The redhead took this as a sign and sat in the chair facing you.
“I asked for them I’d question you alone first, they might overwhelm you,” this Natasha is surprisingly kind and soft, not what you expected her to be.
“What’s your name?”
“Y/N…”
“Any last name?” You could only shake your head at her.
“I don’t have one…”
“Okay Y/N… Can I call you Y/N?” You nod at her.
“What are you doing on that facility? Do you know where your parents are? You look not more than a 17 year old girl…”
“I’m 19…” you meekly said. The redhead raised her perfectly trimmed eyebrow at you.
“I grew up in there… What do you mean by “parents”?” you genuinely asked her.
“You know, a mother and a father?” Natasha confusedly answered.
“I don’t have that… I only have the doctor.”
“I’ve been hearing this doctor a lot. Is he the one who raised you?”
“Yes” Natasha nods in acknowledgement. She motioned for you to keep eating, and you did so.
You finished your meal with a swig of water and set the plate on the table next to you.
“One last question, do you recognized this?” She raised the mask so you could see it clearly. Your eyes visibly widened and it didn’t go unnoticed by the redhead.
“You know who this mask belongs to, don’t you?” you avoided her gaze. You can’t tell a lie. You can’t tell the truth either.
“It’s the doctor’s, isn’t it?” you hugged your knees still avoiding her gaze. She doesn’t know yet… They cannot know.
“It's fine. No one will harm you, especially here.” Natasha tries to reassure you. She pats your leg before standing up.
“If you need anything, just press this button here. I’ll come back again later.” You heard the cell hissed.
You laid back down and closed your eyes. This must be a dream, isn’t it?
I hope I don’t wake up from this blissful dream.
⧗──────────────────────────⧗
”How’s the kid, Romanoff? Got anything from her?” Tony asked her once she returned. There’s only Tony and Steve in the room at the moment.
“She’s surprisingly doing fine, Stark. Aside from the doctor she’s been mentioning a lot, I got nothing except her name and her being an orphan.” She puts the mask on top of the table.
“Anything about that?” Steve points at the mask. Natasha shook her head. He goes back on the files he has on the desk.
“I have my assumptions. But that’s just only that.” She crossed her arms and nods her head at Tony’s direction. “Found anything yet?”
“Yes. Apparently, the whole facility was owned by a doctor named Dr. Ivan Ivanov. And wow, even the name sounds like a villain.” A photo of a man in a lab coat appeared on the screen, along with its information.
“Where is this man now?” Steve asks.
“He disappeared 25 years ago. Nothing on the database shows his whereabouts now but I bet he’s the doctor she’s been talking about.” Tony starts fiddling something on his tablet.
“And one more thing though, there is nothing on that girl when I ran a scan on her face.” This caught Natasha's attention even more.
“What do you mean?”
“There are no digital footprints on her. None at all.”
“I did not find anything relevant on these files we gathered back there, too.” Steve gathered the files in neat file.
“So, what does this mean? She just don’t exist?” Natasha grabbed the tablet in Tony’s hand.
“Hey! That’s – never mind. Anyways, to answer your question, yes. I suggest we hold onto her just in case.” Tony popped a blueberry in his mouth. “Want some?” he offered to Steve in which Steve ignored.
“I don’t think that’s –” Natasha was cut-off as Bruce went inside with a worried look on his face. The trio faced him.
“I agree with Tony. Take a look at this,” the screen showed series of graphs that confuses Steve and Natasha.
“What are we looking at, Bruce?” Steve curiously asks.
“Wait, don’t tell us that’s –” Tony straightens from where he stands.
“That’s gamma radiation. I don’t know how but the radiation is present from her at the moment.” Bruce states in worry.
"Shouldn't she be dead from the level of radiation she's emitting?"
“I don’t know Tony, she seems pretty alive to me.” Natasha said.
“We need to find out soon. She has to stay.” Bruce went back on his tablet and began his own tests.
“I’ll tell the others. How long till Fury comes back?” Steve stands up from his seat.
“I’m right here, Rogers. If I heard it right, this girl has gamma radiation emitting off from her?” Nick Fury strode in the room along with Maria Hill beside him.
“Yes. I'd like to take a closer look at her condition.” Bruce requested.
“Then we’re going to keep her here. Do anything what you can find on her. Right now, she’s the only key on finding the Reaper.” Fury commands the group.
“We can’t keep her in that cell like a prisoner. She’s just a kid.” Natasha exclaims.
“What do you suggest we do, Agent?” Fury challenges.
“Don’t get too attached Romanoff. She might be dangerous.”
“Aren’t we all?” She scoffs. “I’ll keep an eye on her, just don’t get her holed up in there.”
“Fine. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Romanoff.” Tony playfully rolled his eyes at her.
“Trust me, I won’t.”
⧗──────────────────────────⧗
“Here. I got you some fresh clothes. You’ll be staying here for a while.” Natasha says when she entered your cell.
You’ve been awake for some time now. You're relieved that Natasha has returned alone. As much as you wanted to meet the others, you’re still wary around this much people.
At the sight of the clothes, you wanted to rip the hospital gown you’re wearing at the moment.
“Do you want to change now?”
How does she keep doing that?
She seems to read you like an open book. It scared you but at the same time it brought a new warm feeling.
Nodding weakly at her, you noticed her small smile of encouragement. She ushered you to take those clothes.
“You can change at – or just here.” You couldn’t wait so you took off the one’s you’re wearing unabashedly. You’re wearing nothing underneath the gown at all.
“Wanna get out here for a while? I can show you around the tower.” Natasha offers at you.
You looked at her with somewhat a hopeful look in your eyes. “I can…come out?” you asked nervously.
“Of course you can, as long as you’re with me and inside the tower for the meantime. You don’t mind if I tag along, don’t you?” You can’t help but smile a little at that.
“I’d like that…” you managed to reply in a small voice. She held her hand out for you that you took eagerly like a child. Her hand feels nice to hold onto, you mused.
You didn’t notice the triumph smile on the redhead’s face. You started walking out of the cell together.
“As I’ve said earlier, you’ll be staying a little longer here at the tower. We still have questions that are yet to be answered, and we can’t just let go of you at the moment.”
“It’s okay. I’d rather be here…”
“Do you mind meeting the others? I’d like to introduce you to them. They can wait if you’re not ready yet.” You pondered for a moment before nodding.
“I’m fine with it.”
Natasha led you into a room that appears to be a living room. Before you can notice the two other people in the room, you saw the large window with the city view.
The sun from the outside illuminated the room through the window. Before you know it, your feet dragged you to the glass and held your palm on it.
You took it all in, your eyes wide with amazement and astonishment.
“You get to see this every day?” You ask in wonder.
Natasha isn't sure how she feels right now, but she feels her heart clench when she sees your childlike gaze.
“I uhm, yes…” She's at a loss for words for the first time.
“Outside is… it’s beautiful.” You feel a hand on your shoulders. Natasha let you be in your awestruck state and watched the view with you for a while.
“Let’s get you to meet the others now, shall we?”
⧗──────────────────────────⧗