Cobra

1

I got off the train and began to make my way to the airport, London still rebuilding, but they were always ready to jump-start the airports. I was passing everything and watching the construction, taking it all in for one last time, at least for a while. I finally make it to the airport, walk in, get my ticket, and go to my gate to wait. Only taking a couple of bags, easy carry-on because I knew it was all I needed. The bustling and business of people going to their respective terminals felt strangely peaceful. And just as I am walking to where my terminal, my plane number is called. I get in line to board, ready to find her again. As we are seated I keep an eye to make sure no one lingers their eyes too long, analyzing their expressions. Once I felt secure, I relaxed slightly, but not enough to let my guard down. A couple of hours in, I look at our time, 5 hours left. Maybe I can take a nap, and get energy for when we get there. I scan the plane one more time carefully and relax. I close my eyes and fall asleep faster than I expected.

Hooked up, I keep my heart rate steady, forcing myself to let her take over. And I only remember bits of what she said and did. We are one but she is the aggressive one, she does the things I cannot. But she has made me see what I'm forced to do, I must watch it, all of it. She told them all of the details of the mission, the elimination of the target, graphic and pointed. But why did I have to see this, why this time? Their faces, names, hear their voice? I couldn't think of why until it happened.

I open my eyes as they announce they are landing.

"We will be landing in 15 minutes, please turn off all electronics and fasten your seatbelts. Thank you for flying with us."

I stretch slightly, humming quietly. I look out the window and see New York. It is as beautiful as I've heard and much busier than I had thought, but central Nee York isn't where I'm gonna be staying.

Finally landing, I wait as my row finally is being let out, I grab my bags from the overhead and make my way to the exit. Making my way out to find a taxi, I find one who is able to take me to Stark Towers. But the traffic and busy feeling of the city surprised me the most. The driver tries to spark conversations, but I don't give him much in response, he finally gave up and lets the rest of the ride be silent. When we arrived, I thanked him and gave him his tip. He thanked me and drove off as soon as I stepped onto the sidewalk. I looked up at the tower, it glowed against the night sky. I look at my watch, 9 p.m. I sigh, thinking of how I'm gonna get up to talk to anyone as I walk in, making my way to the security desk.

"Do you have an appointment?" the guard asks me,

"No, but I do need to talk to Stark or Natasha Romanoff," I state bluntly

The guard nods and calls someone. He tells me it will be a few minutes, someone will be with me shortly. I thank him and go to look at the pictures. I take in the tower, it has an open and inviting feeling, mostly windows, and the architecture is impressive just from the inside. A few minutes pass and I hear the elevator ding, out walks a man with a bigger build and a goat tee.

"Hello, I'm Happy. Will you please follow me, Miss Lorenz?" I look at him and nod, we walk to the elevators.

"I never gave my name." I look at him as we enter the elevator, he pushes a button and speaks, "No but we run people's faces, especially those who speak of Natasha." He looks over at me and he has an expression, "How do you know her?" He asks

"She was like a sister to me," I say shortly as the elevator stop, the doors opening.

I follow him to an office and see someone I never thought I'd see again. I stay cold-faced even though it felt like I was seeing a ghost, I thought he had died. Does this mean the rest of them are alive or is he free?

" Hello, I'm Peter Parker." Says the younger man that Happy stands next to.

I look to Peter, "Hello, I'm Elyse." nodding politely. The other person looks at me curiously, recognizing me, but can't quite place where he knows me from. Even though he wasn't informed of who I was when they were alerted of me, he was slowly remembering me. Slowly it was all coming back.

"So, what exactly do you know of Natasha?" Peter asks me curiously.

"She and I trained together, she was like an older sister, my only family," I say looking down slightly.

"We know you came from the same facility, but you are marked as deceased. Our big question is, how are you alive?" Peter and Happy look at me, trying to understand how I'm here alive.

My face contorts, unsure of how to answer the question. How do I answer a question when I can't even recall several months between then and Hydra...

I look at Peter, "I'm sorry, but I have no idea. I don't really remember how I got away..."

Happy nods and Peter gives me a worried look.

"Well, we will help you figure that out, but let's get you settled in." Happy says, coming around to me and grabbing my bags. I nod and thank Peter. I look at the other guy and remember him, flashbacks making me cringe inwardly, he nods to me in a polite gesture and I do the same.