They all stayed there waiting for her to say something but to their dismay she didn't utter a word, she looked down before turning her way around with a bit of struggle to walk properly and leaving without looking back.
Everyone shared a look not knowing what to do until Tony stood up from his seat and followed after her.
He saw her trying to walk back to their lab, walking with help of the wall just outside the conference room.
.
"kid." I heard from behind me.
I turned my head back and rested my back against the wall not being able to look him in the eyes as he was approaching me, before he could get close I got scared and backed away,
"N-no, don't. I don't want to hurt anyone." I said raising my hands.
"hey hey, it's alright, you won't hurt me..." he went trying to assure me and came closer carefully and held my arm , "...see, nothing. It's nothing. I'm okay."
I calmed down hearing that and let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Him on the other hand was still worried because as soon as he held my arm he got a reminder of my high temperature again as he touched my forehead,
"you shouldn't walk around with a fever like that..." He said before signing, "...come one, sit down." He sat down on the floor waiting for me to do the same. I was feeling so tired it didn't take me long to follow him and slid down.
"you heard everything?" he asked looking at me.
"not everything." I answered still looking away.
He didn't say anything more so I continued before swallowing, "are you...afraid of me?"
He turned to me with a bit of surprise visible on his face, but he understood why I asked it, he took a deep breath before correcting his posture,
"No. not even a little bit." He answered in a laid back tone while smiling down at me.
"what about them?"
"they're not scared either, kid. They're just...tired after the mission and tensed, bad guys got away with the cube and that glow stick..." Before I could say anything he got up, "...let's go, this floor is uncomfortable. You need to rest." He helped me get up and lead me back to the lab.
I sat down on a chair at the table, my eyes kept looking back at the monitor where I watched that video. Mr. Stark realized what was I looking at and turned it off quickly before taking another chair and sitting in front of me,
"let's not think about it, let's just talk about something else and get our minds off of this stuff. I think we both need this."
"...I didn't mean to do th-"
"shhh, I said no thinking about it."
Unknown to us, Thor and cap were standing on the doorway about to call me but stopped as I asked something,
"did I kill someone?" I asked again after a short pause, I gave him a pleading look because I wanted to know, I could have never forgive myself if I found out someone died because of me, he understood my look and signed before answering me,
"no, the facility was evacuated because of the ambush. No one was killed....kid, don't think that way. Think of the bright side, you got us out, we were surrounded by those soldiers don't you remember?"
"more like got in the way..." I mumble, "...Thor sai-"
"blondie is just a little grumpy don't listen to him...." Thor frowned a little taken back and cap nudged him to stay quiet, "...Paper is on her way, she can't wait to meet you, are you excited?" he tried to change the subject.
It did help though, knowing that she cared so much and was coming here, it indeed put a smile on my face.
"I can't wait to meet her too." I said genuinely smiling.
Then I heard someone coughing as in to grab our attention, I look back and find Thor and Cap standing there awkwardly,
At first I didn't know how to react but a genuine smile made it's way to my face automatically, we didn't get to meet back properly after I came back, they came inside with a warm smile to greet me,
"Little one, good to know you're back safe."
"...good to be back." I was smiling at that nick name he gave me, I was happy he still remembered that.
"hey kid."
"Cap?" I looked at him as my smile grew bigger,
"how are you feeling?"
"honestly...I'm having a headache."
"that's because of your fever..." we heard another familiar voice, Doc was coming towards us with Nat, "...it's because you used too much energy that time, your body is just burned out, give it some time it'll go away, you'll be fine soon." He finished as he reached us.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, she's a strong one right?" Nat said smiling gently.
She was trying to lift up my mood, but it didn't work really well, I'm not as mentally strong as people think I am, I didn't reply anything but forced a smile, somehow she looked through this façade, she recognized I was lying as always. Her smile fade away slowly when she realized this and everyone's mood started shifting,
"kid, I know it's a difficult time, we've all been there..." Doc started and sat on a chair near me, "...when..Hulk became a part of me, I didn't know how to live with it so I tried running away, I tried to get rid of him but it didn't work, situations like this test your limits but you're not the only one, we all know what you've been feeling." He tried comforting me.
"you just need to give yourself some time, it took me some time to get used to this new change too." Cap said.
"besides we're all here to help, nothing bad will happen ever again." Nat said smiling again.
Hearing all this...made me feel at easy for few seconds, I was happy that I was surrounded by people who care but...worry overtook me again as I thought about what Fury said earlier, a threat. I've become a threat.
"what if I hurt anyone?"
"enough..." Mr. Stark intervened. "...we've got plenty of time to discuss this, she just came back let her rest and we'll continue this after." He finished and signaled Nat for something.
"come on, you need to change." She said holding my hand trying to help me get up. I realized she was right, I was still wearing the tracksuit from HYDRA, it was all dirty now and I haven't taken shower in last few days, it made me feel disgusting and all I wanted to do now was to clean myself. I got up and let her lead me outside.
When we reached a bedroom I recognized it instantly, it was the same one I was living in when I first came here, Nat left my side for few seconds and came with some new cloths,
"see, I got this for you. do you like it?"
I looked at her side to find her holding a casual short knee length dress, it was pretty cute one,
"Stark said Paper will bring your cloths with her but until then I got some for you....when I saw it I thought it would look nice on you so I brought it." She said coming closer.
Just hearing that made me emotional, they are going through all this trouble just because of me and I was feeling guilty for doubling their work, when I didn't give a reaction she frowned and glanced at the dress,
"well if you don't like it then I got hoodies of your style too-"
"No, no...I love it...it's just..i'm sorry, for being this burden."
She came closer with a soft look on her face and dropped the dress on bed,
"hey, I know things get rough sometimes but know that no one is taking it as burden okay? We all do this because we care. You should listen to Stark and rest for now." She said before slowly embracing me in a hug, it got me by surprise but I didn't mind. she rested her head against my own and started rubbing my back softly. Oh how I needed this. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around her hesitantly at first but then tighten my hold slowly.
"it'll be alright, kid."
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A/N :
I apologise for this extremely late update and being inactive, as I said I was caught up with some college work and problems but I have updated multiple chapters to make up for this inconvenience but now I'm back in business 🍷🦾🐧