Black Panther, Animal

Ch. 20 "Overwhelmed"

                                                 Autumn POV 

I was woken yet again by the screeching. yelling. honking 

I sit up immediately overing my ears with the palms of my hands. scrunching my eyes shut. the pain that the noises were causing was excruciating. 

My breathing fast. trying anything to make it stop. I thought as 

I remember what Mommy used to tell me when we would hunt. 

"Focus on one thing. focus my little cub." the words echoed in my mind. 

I did as I was told Finally my hearing was focused on my breaths. 

I slowly pull my hands away from my ears. and everything was normal. 

I let out a breath of relief. 

I get out of bed.

I walk out of the room. I realize that it's still dark. 

I make my way to the living room you could hardly see a thing. so I used my reptile vision seeing in heat signatures. 

No one was here. I thought as I walked towards the window. 

Looking outside I knew then I was far from home. seeing all sorts of tall buildings. 

All sorts of things I don't recognize. all sorts of smells I don't recognize. sounds I can't stand to hear. 

It was all unfamiliar to me. 

"Can't sleep?" I hear 

I look up and see Bucky. 

"No.. I shook my head.

"Why?" He asked 

"I miss home..." He said 

"Home??" He said 

"The forest... the smells... the sounds... the air." I said looking at the sky

He didn't say anything. 

"I miss home..." I said 

"Autumn I know everything here is very different. but it's not forever." He said planning his hand on my shoulder. 

I nodded 

suddenly all the noises started overwhelming me again. and I covered my ears again. falling to my knees. the pain of all the noises hurting my ears. 

I hear Bucky's muffled voice. 

"Autumn.. Autumn! what's wrong talk to me." I hear through my hands. 

I scrunch my eyes shut. the pain. it hurt all the noises loud as if they are right next to me. over a dozen of sounds happening at one time. 

I felt myself being picked up and rushed somewhere. 

Suddenly I was sat down. I hear a few muffled voices. 

"Little one.." I hear 

I slowly open my eyes to see T'Challa looking at me concerned along with Tony, Bruce and Bucky. 

I slowly start to pull my hands away and immediately regretted it. holding my palms of my hands to my ears as tightly as I could. 

"Autumn what's wrong?" I hear him say muffled 

"T'Challa it hurts make it stop." I said 

"What hurts?' He said worried 

"The noises the sounds make them stop." I said squeezing my eyes shut. 

feeling the tears fall down my cheeks. 

                                  Tony POV 

"What's she mean by the sounds?" I said looking at T'Challa 

"She's got enhanced hearing. smell. sight." T'Challa said 

"So in other words all the sounds of New York are overwhelming her." I said digging through a drawer 

"Yes.." T'Challa said 

I put earphones to a walk man over her ears and play soft music. 

"Give me a few days to makes something. in the mean time play soft relaxing music. that can tune out the overwhelming noises." I said 

I see Autumn's face relax as soon as I hit play. 

"Better?" I said smiling at her. 

She nodded. 

"Just give me a few day." I said 

T'Challa nodded