𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐊Ö𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍 ⌁ 𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 [𝟏]

XIV. TESTING, TESTING 1-2-3

          "I can also hear the deaths of people I've met, no matter how far away they are, and I know exactly who it is every time." I softly replied. A tense silence began to fill the room as I could practically feel the pity coming off everyone, more from Rogers.

          "So uh... you've pretty much mastered martial arts. Can you tell us who trained you?" Dr. Banner faltered to break the awkward silence.

          "The Winter Soldier." I answered, which I noticed made Captain Rogers a bit uneasy.

"And do you have anything else in your skill set?" Banner inquired.

"Hacking, code breaking, violin." I listed as Banner typed everything down.

"Violin?" Rogers curiously raised an eyebrow.

"It helps block out the deaths and control my emotions, therefore control my powers." I explained in a gentle tone.

"Is there anything else you think we should know?" Dr. Banner asked as he finished typing before I let out a breath through my nose and shifted my gaze to the floor.

"Once a year, I have these... episodes. For two minutes, I feel like I'm being suffocated, like my heart is pounding out of my chest. I get these flashbacks from the grenade incident in Scotland. I just feel like I'm dying again."

Might as well tell them now than have them find out on my birthday.

"When do these happen?" Banner questioned.

"9:07 PM, every February 22." I raised my eyebrows and pursed my lips.

"Your birthday?" Captain Rogers creased his eyebrows in confusion.

"Which is also my death date." I added. The room fell into silence again as the three realized my life was a hell of a lot worse than they thought it was. I haven't actually told them the day I died, until now.

"Okay, well I think we can just move on to the physical evaluation." Banner awkwardly stammered to change the heavy subject. I gently nodded my head in agreement, I've never actually talked to anyone about all the bad things that's happened to me. It just seemed like they happened, and I was told to get over it and move on.

• • •

          "Testing, testing. 1-2-3." Mr. Stark chimed into the microphone. I stood on a mat in the training area with Agent Barton, while Stark, Rogers, and Banner watched from the side.

         "Is that really necessary?" I questioned.

         "It's an abilities evaluation, of course it's necessary." Stark defended before I turned my head to face Agent Barton, who held up his fists in a defensive position.

         "Now listen, I'm gonna go easy on you, okay? So just hit me wheneve-" Before Barton could finish his sentence, I raised my leg to strike him in the stomach with my knee. As he stumbled back, I bent down and swept my foot at his legs to throw him off balance. Barton fell backwards and crashed onto the mat.

          "And the bird has crashed." Stark declared into the microphone for all of New York to hear. I noticed a very small smile hidden on Rogers' face as he pursed his lips.

          "Okay, that was... that was good." Barton breathed out as he stood up from the mat.

          "If you already knew I've mastered hand-to-hand combat, why do you need to evaluate me on it?" I furrowed my eyebrows and tilted my head.