TIME WILL TELL
The one to wake me up was Barton;
Knocking on my door,his hand relentless. Must have been around knock forty two when I actually opened it,but before that all I did was lie on my bed,my eyes fixed on a small fly's round path on the ceiling. It was a rather empty morning.
“You look like shit” ,those were the first words to come out of his mouth. My nostrils were opened,myself not in the mood to defend my looks at the moment. I never washed my face,red and black smudges all over my skin as I was still wearing last night's clothes.
“Nice to see you too Barton”,i hummed in a rather mocking way.
“Cap and Stark had an early leave” ,he said as he made himself comfortable on my bed,me watching him from afar as I leaned on the door frame. “Fury wanted all of us but Cap said they should go first,i don't know why..”,he was mostly mumbling.
Idid.
I could only assume I had done something to offend him. Perhaps I overshared,or he was too drunk,maybe I was too drunk. Nothing happened really,but I didn't like the way we left things last night. Although seemingly nothing happened,i couldn't shake off this feeling that something had.
But those thoughts are not for soldiers to carry. Right?
“We take off in fifteen” ,he said and stood up to leave. I nodded and closed the door behind him.
Only then I noticed the suitcase standing next to my bed; a big black one,with an envelope on top of it. I tilted my head.
I had to pull some strings,but I got you twenty. Don't burn them,i'm not your personal stylist pirate girl.
T.Stark
I couldn't help but let out a chortle. He was a good man,and a good friend. That's how It all goes,if you have fought together,you are close enough to be called friends. I would trust my teammate much more than I ever trusted my own blood.
There were indeed many pieces,twenty of them no wonder. All the blouses stuck together,the pants too. Folded,ironed and leaving off a tint of green apple as I sniffed them.
I washed myself,as quickly as possible and dried up; Barton would leave me behind if I were too late. I dressed up,and although the fabric felt rather strange against my skin,the attire all together was identical to the one originated from my unit.
“Here she comes”,Tasha said with a sigh; the doctor was chatting with Barton as they turned their heads to see me. “What's that?” ,she asked pointing at my suitcase with her eyes.
“Just clothes”,she pursed her lips,but didn't ask any further questions.
Barton put in on the trunk and we took off.
Tasha was in the front seat and I was in the back along with the doctor. The doctor had his smart glasses on,reading some papers which seemed just a tad too many. I was laying on my back,my feet resting on Tasha's seat as Barton was humming along to some music coming from the radio.
We only stopped twice,just to go to the bathroom and grab something to eat; Tasha got me chips,barbecue flavored she said. Such an amazing and miraculous invention.
But it was a not too long trip; we arrived at the HQ premises before it got dark.
Natasha spoke to some agents,holding papers and reading through the names as she showed them a card which I could only assume was some sort of identification.
“Steve handled most of the paperwork” ,she explained as we were pacing down some corridor,only to enter inside a big elevator. “ we just need to...confirm some details”
“What do you mean?” ,the doctor asked her suspiciously.
“Let's just say that they need as many aspects as they can get. It's a tiresome routine,but we can't really avoid it” ,she hummed,her voice faint as we heard a beeping when the elevator doors opened.
And indeed it was.
Each of us had to get inside a closed off room with only one big mirror. There was just one man inside sitting on a table,asking us to take a seat. This man's name was doctor Stanley as he said.
I am not sure whether on not the others had to get through the same questions,but dr Stanley was relentless.
His questions were mainly focused on the events leading to me fleeing my planet and coming to Earth. His voice was low and his accent thick as he seemed to be carefully choosing each and every word he was using. He wore a white coat and had light brown hair,some curls intertwined with gray strands,just like threads.
But after a while,his words became somewhat...leading,if nothing else,towards a certain direction.
“Then would you say that the Pelimorrean Army is currently searching for you,Agent Pearse?” ,he had his hands together in front of him as he seemed to be studying my every movement.
“Yes”,i answered. I needn't hide anything.
“So..is it possible for the same army to eventually raid our planet in their hunt for you,Agent?”,i pursed my lips,biting my tongue as I tried to calculate my words. I knew were he was going with this.
“Yes,it is”
“And what may happen then? When an army such as Pelimorre's,a mighty and quite strong one,with soldiers enhanced with powers which we do not possess,what will you do? Will you surrender yourself to them,or will you expect from us to fight your battle for you?”
“I did” ,my tone was firm yet light,and dr Stanley seemed to be taken by surprise.
“Excuse me?”,his brows were knitted together.
“I fought your battle for you. I fought Loki and the Chitauri while protecting your civilians as you were all hiding behind a desk” ,i crossed my feet and and my arms,one eyebrow lifted as I awaited for a response.
“So what is it that you ask?”
“Nothing really”,i shook my head. “I am an Avenger,doctor. So when the Pelimorreans come looking for a fight,we will all do as we're asked; just like we did when Loki opened that damned portal. We will protect your planet for you”
Dr Stanley leaned back,a huff of air escaping his lips.
“The Avengers will all do. It's our duty”
“So i'm guessing we're finished here? Good” ,i didn't give him a chance to respond as I stood up,ready to leave.
“They won't like that you know”,he suddenly said and I turned around as I was already by the door. He had his arms crossed and he looked like he was calculating something as his eyes were fixed on the table. Then,he lifted his gaze to look directly at me. “The guys upstairs I mean. If such an event is to truly happen Agent Pearse...I just hope your teammates bear the same trust for you as you do for them”,he stood up and I squinted my eyes.
“Well,only time will tell” ,he admitted with a faint smile and I left.