One Small Victory
"Well if it isn't the big savior. Here to res--"
"No. It's my turn to talk." Natasha was sitting on the couch near Mr. Stark and Steve had followed you in. Three superheroes all stared at you with matching dumbfound expressions. "Look, I get it. You guys are the Superheroes. Saving the world, getting the bad guy, it's your thing. But I swear, I am not trying to step on anyone's toes here. If I'm being perfectly honest, I think you got the wrong girl and none of this is gonna change shit. I still haven't even agreed to try, so don't get your panties in a wad, I just needed a place to stay. I'm here because every other godforsaken thing in my life has turned to ash and I have no alternatives. Lose the attitude because I'm not your savior. I'm just trying to keep my head above the water. If you can't understand anything else, then try to understand that. What we're not gonna do, is blame each other for things that neither of us can control. Deal?" Tony stared back at you stone faced, but you never broke.
"Well, looks like Tinkerbell found a backbone." You simply stared, daring him to challenge you again. "Fine...Fine. I'll play nice. For now." You finally blinked and gave Tony a small nod, to which he reciprocated. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
You turned your back on them and made your way to the elevator. Before you took three steps you heard Steve jog after you. Is privacy a commodity in this place? "So babysitter is now on your long list of responsibilities?"
"Does it need to be?" You whipped your head to him. "I'm not going to do anything stupid if that's what you're implying."
"Guns down tomb raider, I'm just suggesting we get some lunch. It was less than an hour ago that you went down. Let's not have a repeat performance." You followed his gaze down to your wrist, which you had been clutching tightly. You internally noticed that your fingers overlapped quite a bit more than they used to and quickly hid them in your pockets after seeing the look on Steve's face.
After what felt like an eternity, the chrome doors of the elevator finally opened to reveal the common area. You walked to the kitchen island and made yourself comfortable in one of the barstools. "F.R.I.D.A.Y. have the chefs make some lunch to be delivered here."
"You got it Captain." The A.I. responded. You breathed slowly through your nose, trying to both celebrate the small victory of getting Tony to agree to a truce and also push down the constant nausea that haunted you.
"You should pat yourself on the back. Not many people can put Tony in his place like that."
"I'll make sure to journal all about it tonight."
"There's that coping mechanism. Care to share what you need to cope with? I'm a great--"
"Nope."
"Y/N."
"It's my own shit. I can handle it."
"No one is saying you can't. But you don't have to do it alone." Anger boiled within, but you couldn't blame the literal nicest man in America for trying to help. As much as you wanted to blow up on him too, you couldn't bring yourself to do it. Emotion had been running your life since the dusting, it was time for logic to take the wheel. "I appreciate what you're trying to do. I'm just...not ready."
"I can respect that. Just know I'm a floor away when you are." As if on cue, the elevator dinged and revealed some staff bringing in a lunch spread. Followed by Thor. The staff spread out the arrangements and you eyed a simple deli sandwich. "Ah! Tiny hero. 'Tis good to see you again." You grabbed the food and made haste towards the door. "You too." You looked behind him to Steve. "I think I'll take this to go. Thanks." The heroes nodded to you as the door closed and you relished in the peace of isolation again.
You finished your lunch in your room before curiosity got the better of you. "F.R.I.D.A.Y. where would I find the data file on me?"
"I'm afraid that's confidential ma'am."
"But it's my own information?"
"Captain Rogers has instructed all data on Y/N Y/L/N to be available for top security clearances only."
"Son of a bitch..." You exhaled in frustration when motion caught your eye. A yellow file was slipped under your door as you heard footsteps walk away. Natasha. You rushed over to pick up the thick cardstock holding your secrets. Sitting on the plush carpet, you opened your file....