Heart Of Stone

Chapter 22

"So tell me how you met one another!" The woman is overly cheerful. In her head she's complaining about how much she hates her job. If it means she has to act like this all the time, I can see why.

"Sorry, we'd prefer to finish our lunch in peace rather than stay on the clock," Wanda said in a sincere tone. "We don't exactly get much time off, so we like to spend it wisely."

I've come to realise that to the public Wanda prefers to stay as pure as possible. She hates to look bad. A little vain, if you ask me, but it can have its benefits.

"Well we can't leave our mystery girl without finding out something!" The woman states, reaching over to me. "Don't touch me!" I snap, flinching back. Her eyes widen when she quickly pulls away. "Did I do something wrong?"

"She has a phobia of human contact," Natasha stated. "I suggest you don't try anything out."

I was shocked that she was defending me, even though it was just telling some stranger to not be so forward. You okay? she threw her thought. I love how she can sometimes think so loudly it broadcasts it to anyone who could listen. It's like a hidden voice that only certain people can hear.

I am fine, I reply. She never touched me. If she does, I will hold back my screams again. I would not want to embarrass you or Miss Maximoff.

You don't have to do that, Lexis, she says. You don't have to worry about touching anyone, either. If anyone gets too close Wanda can stop them and then I can finish them off.

You do not have to act as bodyguards, I can't help but frown. You have no loyalties towards me. At least none important enough to defend me like that.

You're technically a civilian, it's our job to protect you, she shrugged. I muttered something inaudible out loud, lowering my head so nobody caught on to what I was saying.

At long last the annoying woman left, but then we were surrounded by random people who were asking Natasha and Wanda for 'pictures' and 'autographs' and things like that. They asked about me, too, but all in all they were after the girls.

Natasha politely declined all offers, but Wanda agreed to as many as she could, trying to improve her public image. "She is very patient with everyone," I comment to Natasha. "She wants people to see her as the good person she is and not the monster most people are calling her," Natasha explained it.

Oh. Now I feel bad for thinking she was simply vain and shallow. She's only trying to prove that she's not a monster... that people can trust her and not regret it... I know how that feels.

While Wanda handles most of the crowd for us, Natasha doesn't get quite as many bothersome 'fans' as she calls them and the questions about me slowly stop. As far as I'm concerned they do, anyway.

Eventually people leave in satisfaction and I can sigh in relief. I hate being so close to people. I've grown a little more used to the Avengers, even Steve and Tony, but these people were different. Thankfully they never touched me, though.

We finished eating, then quickly left, not wanting to be stopped by fans again. "We'll go in proper disguises next time," Natasha decreed, looking at her and Wanda's casual attire. "I guess we're getting more noticeable these days. Great."

"Hopefully it's in a good way, though," Wanda said optimistically. "As long as we convince people that we're not the bad guys."

I nodded absently as they lead me off again, bags in tow. The girls had insisted on carrying some of mine since they only had one or two each but I had around six. We all carried three bags each in the end.

"So, Lexis, we're all going to hang out in the penthouse again tonight," Natasha said after a short while of walking. "You coming, too?"

"It is your 'hangout' for your group," I shrug. "I am a part of neither. I wouldn't want to intrude."

"How can something be both an invited attendance and an intrusion?" Wanda pointed out. "You wouldn't be intruding if we invited you."

"Hm..." I muse. I have to admit, I'm interested. It would be good for me to see what people do these days, too. Plus it gives me something more to do than sit in my room all evening, which is what I usually do when they all go off to one of their little meet ups. Loki tends to join me, but it's still not exactly ideal.

We all continue talking until we get back to the tower and I head back to my room, this time all my bags in tow. The clothes hangers these days are ridiculous. Why do you need one that slants downwards? Wouldn't it be easier to have it slant upwards if you need to slant it at all?

Eventually I finish everything and put all the bags under the bed to deal with when I go back home in case I need to carry anything extra with me. Then I freshen up, glad that the term has carried over to modern times. I don't really have any makeup to apply, so I just settle for combing out my pin straight hair so the jet black looks softer than silk and change into a nicer outfit.

What I settle for wearing is a dress picked out by Wanda and approved by Natasha. The top part is yellow with a black leathery sort of belt that came up thick just above my waist, then the rest was a plain black 'pencil skirt' that came down to my knees. The black heels I wore were plain but high.

I then have to answer a knock at the door, which turns out to be Natasha and Wanda. "You don't look half bad," Natasha compliments, eying my outfit. "You joining us, then?"

"I suppose I might as well if I am welcome," I agree. Wanda smiled to me. "Then let's go. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't keep the boys waiting."