[1] Just A Normal Girl | Avallone the Avenger

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

I woke up to the sound of soft knocking on my door. "What?!" I called out, the sleep making my voice heavy and different. "Are you awake?" A soft female voice called from the other side of the door.
"No, I'm scuba diving!" I replied. The person on the other side of the door chuckled softly and pushed the door open. "Morning, sunshine." Pepper said, stepping into my room.
"Peps, it's like five in the morning. What's up?" I asked, pushing the covers off me and walking to the kitchen. "I just couldn't really get to sleep, and Tony was being stupid, as always. So, I came here. Sorry that I woke you up though." She said, biting her lip. As I made two coffees I stood there thoughtfully.
"Is that the real reason?" I asked her, after a few minutes of thinking. She sighed and shook her head. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened at the cafe. I didn't really have much chance to, after it happened."
I nodded and sat down on the couch. "So, who was that? I mean the guy you were arguing with." She asked me. "Well, every year, people from all over New York, who own cafes and diners and the like, get together and just talk and stuff. I met him there, and we became friends." Pepper nodded and asked another question, "You seemed pretty angry about something. What was it?"
Sighing, I thought back to that afternoon. John had treated me like a little kid: giving me advice on how to live my life. "John, that's his name, was just acting like my dad. He 'advised' me to stay away from you guys and stuff."
Pepper gasped and replied, "He had no right to do that! No wonder you were so mad." I nodded in agreement and we sat there for a few minutes, in silence, sipping our hot drinks.

"You know that Steve really likes you right?" Pepper said. I just shrugged my shoulders. "Yeah, I guess." She chuckled slightly. "I mean he really likes you."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry. This probably isn't the right time to pile you up with things like this. I should probably go. It was great talking to you, and thanks for the coffee." She said, getting up and putting her mug away.
I made no argument and she left, leaving me to my own thoughts.

~

Three hours later, I was dressed and making breakfast in the kitchen. This morning, I had a weird craving for french toast, so there I was, making some toast, that probably wasn't even french.
I had told Jarvis to play the radio, and a familiar song came on: Thinking Out Loud. I smiled to myself and sang along to the sweet melody.
"I'm thinking 'bout how, people fall in love in mysterious ways; maybe just the touch of a hand. Well, me I fall in love with you every single day, and I just want to tell you I am."
Soon, I found myself thinking back to the time when I was dancing with Loki, to this very song. I smiled to myself and sang the end of the song, with a sigh.
It had been for the goodbye party of Natasha and Clint. I sighed again. Maybe one day I'll be able to go on missions like that. But I will have to train like shit if I ever wanted to go on a mission.
"Jarvis! Call everyone in! It's breakfast time!" I called to the AI system and set the massive plate of food on the table. Quickly, everyone came in at the same time.
"Weird." I mumbled to myself. Normally, they come in one by one. I shrugged and brushed the thought aside; there is no point spending unnecessary brain power on something that doesn't concern me.
"Morning, sunshine." Tony said, coming up to me and messing up my hair. "Uggh. Tony." I said, straitening out my hair, and pushing it back into place, "I spent ages on it this morning!" He chuckled and grabbed some french toast.
"Smells great!" He said, before taking a bite, "And tastes great too." The others said their agreements and soon breakfast was finished.
"So what are we doing today?" I asked, clearing the table. Steve and Thor stood up to help. "Thanks boys." I smiled, dumping the dishes into their arms and collapsing on the couch. They looked at each other and then at me and just nodded, taking the dishes to the kitchen.
"We don't really have anything planned today." Tony said, idly picking at his fingernails. "Okay." I replied quietly.
Suddenly, I found I was standing and that Pepper and Natasha had one of my arms each. "Uhhh." I said, not really able to say anything else. They pulled on my poor limbs simultaneously. I groaned and shot a pleading look at Tony, but he just shook his head, with smile.
"Where are we going? And what are we doing?" I asked them, as they shut the door. Nat just shushed me and lead me to the elevator. Then, she turned to Pepper and nodded.
A black piece of cloth was placed over my eyes, and my vision was blocked. "Guys." I groaned, but a hand was placed over my mouth. Natasha. I could identify her smell. Leather, metal, and a distinct sweet smell.
I felt Pepper's hand move on my arm and the elevator started to go down. Hmm, what was below the floor we just left. There was the piano, the pool, the library, the art room, the recording room and so much more.
I started to feel dizzy and decided to stop listing what possibilities I could be meeting.
The elevator stopped and they lead me out onto the floor. A smell met my nose, but I couldn't distinguish it. It was somewhere between a hint of must and a smell I couldn't identify.
"Guys, the blindfold." I said, as we stopped. "No, not yet." Natasha's voice said, to my left. I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut. I was slightly afraid of what was to come.