Heart Of Stone

Chapter 14

"Your powers, Miss Grey, seem to be extraordinary," Fury starts. "Not only can you calm the Hulk, you can control the whole team. You can also read minds, which is a big help in itself."

"I am aware of my abilities," I say impatiently. "That as well as the others that I am not willing to speak of. What is your point?"

"I'd like you to work with the Avengers," Fury offers me again. "And I would like to decline, as I did before," I sigh. "I have told you already that I am not willing to work for your little cause. You cannot make me."

"You must think about what you're turning down," Fury persists. "Not many people get this chance. Some people would kill for this chance. But you actively deny it? What's holding you back?"

"I am not safe with others and they are not safe with me!" I snap. "I will cause more harm than good! Testro lackzi mindez!"

I take a deep breath to calm down once I realise I'm back in Tamatari again. "You will never convince me. If that is all you have come for, please leave. I am sure you have other uses of your time than to waste it here."

"I insist that you at least agree to this for a trial period," Fury keeps trying to convince me. "If you stay for... let's say a month. You stay for a month and if you really don't like it there, we'll let you come right back here and we won't bother you again."

"And if I refuse?" I enquire, cocking a brow. "Then we'll just take you there ourselves," Fury shrugged, unfazed. "You will not touch me!" I hiss. "I have half a mind to force you away right now! Tell me why I should refrain!"

"Because we'll just keep coming back," Fury states calmly. "We'll send in reinforcements to bring you. We can do what we like, you'll end up joining us sooner or later."

"You would kidnap me in order to force me to obey your every command to prevent crimes such as kidnappings and slavery?" I inquire. "Did you even think about what your plans were after I escaped? I could have you all... arrested, I believe is the term these days."

"Your kidnapping is a necessary evil," Fury shrugged, but his mind betrayed him. He was having doubts. T'Challa was having more than just doubts, too. I decided to play on these emotions.

"Ki-... T'Challa, what would your people think of you if the king they trusted to care for and protect them aided this cause?" I ask. "Would you really condone the kidnapping of an innocent? Would you not only condone it but assist to it?"

"My people... they would understand why I did what I will have to do," he sighed. But he wasn't going to assist, at very least. He was sure of it, so I turned my attention to Fury.

"You would be seen as a monster. Who would trust the Avengers after it was revealed that they kidnapped an innocent and forced her to risk her life over and over again? Especially when the Avengers are supposedly people the public look up to and turn to in times of crisis. Nobody would accept you any more. The Avengers would collapse. Then who would the public turn to when they were faced with a crisis? There would be nobody; you would all be locked away where you belong. You want me to defend the world, but sometimes you must lose the battle to win the war. A little protection, or none? It is your choice."

Fury glares at me, his mind working on overdrive. It's going so rapidly it's hard for even me to keep up. How is he functioning like this? All I know for sure is that he's got some concerns with his plans.

"Perhaps we should leave," T'Challa suggested, uncomfortable. "It was lovely to meet you, Miss Grey." "Please, just call me Lexis," I smile slightly to him. "It was a pleasure to have you here. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about Mr Fury."

Fury just glared at me before leaving with T'Challa. I knew that Fury was all talk; he wasn't prepared to actually go that far. He was just trying to scare me into submission. A pity that that doesn't work on me.

I shut the door behind them, then slumped onto my bed. Today has drained me of my energy. But I still need to worry about what to do now that these guys are trying to take me places. Is it really time to do it? To put my greatest fears into action?

I close my eyes, rubbing my temples. No. I like this time. I'll stay here and I'll fight if it's necessary. This is what I've been training for. I can do this.

I look to my barb. It's in its retracted form and appears to be no more than a paperweight. I will use this cast-iron weapon to defend myself. No matter what.

I don't bother to change that night. Instead I just curl up in my warm bed and allow sleep to overtake me. I'll need my strength for what's coming.

When I wake up again I head outside, planning to get some practice in with my barb, but four familiar figures are sat under a tree, enjoying what I believe is called a picnic.

"And here's the lady of the hour!" Tony smirks, standing up and walking over. I take a step back, afraid. "What are you doing here?!"

"We wanted to apologise," Wanda said, getting up as well. Natasha and Steve follow suit. I only backed up further. "If I accept your apology, will you leave?"

"You're scared of us now?" Tony seemed amused. "When I am not in water... you can hurt me," I say. "Worse than you think. I do not wish to let you participate in practical demonstration."

"We're not here for a fight, we've come to apologise for fighting you when we misunderstood Fury," Steve said. His tone was calm, but he was genuinely upset about what he'd done.

Why do they care so much?