Jayden woke up cosy. It was strange, almost as though she were on a cloud, weightless and untouchable. Yet, it was precarious; at any moment, she could sink through its surface and fall back into her rock-hard reality. Stretching with a yawn, she turned to her side and realised, for the first time in a long while, she didn't ache—not even a little.
As her eyes focused on Mini Thor, diligently watching over her on her bedside table, she caught the digital clock displaying 5:06 PM. She'd been asleep for a while; longer than she planned. The covers over her, which felt unusually restrictive but assuaging, shifted. Theo poked his head out from their depths, his fur disturbed and his eyes blinking away their drowsiness.
"Comfy?"
"Very much so," he nodded, stretching.
"The bed is so soft," she murmured, tracing the soft edge of her blanket. "It all feels like a dream."
"But here we are."
"Here we are," she repeated. "Do you think they were telling the truth? About their doctors?"
"I... I'm not sure, but I don't think they've given us any reason not to trust them."
"But it's- you know-"
"You should try at least."
"It's not as easy as that."
"I know," he nodded. "But you can do it. Compared to everything else, this is easy."
She rolled her eyes, sitting up and hugging her knees close to her chest.
"How's the new name?" He tried to divert the conversation, not wishing her to sit in her fears.
"It's- it's a name," she hummed, a slight smile tugging at her. "My name. A proper name. Jayden. It's odd, but I like it."
"I still like J."
"Me too," she said. "You can keep calling me that if you like. I can be both."
"It feels like we've finally gotten rid of the lab, doesn't it?" He questioned, hopping forward until he was on her knee.
"It's still out there. The others are still trapped in there," she glowered. "I've still got this."
She tugged at the collar hard. No matter how lavish this penthouse was, the restraint wouldn't allow her to forget where she came from.
"But we're slowly getting there, aren't we?"
"I suppose being a little optimistic doesn't hurt."
She stretched her shoulders a final time before she slipped off the bed. Deciding she was far too relaxed to change, she left the room in her pyjamas. The carpet tickled against her bare feet as she traversed down the corridor, and she paused, wriggling her toes, focusing on the gentle sensation before she continued. Theo settled on her arm as she reached the living room door. As she pushed her hand out to open it, she hesitated, hearing her name in a mix of muffled voices.
"-find this lab." An unfamiliar female voice said.
"Perhaps Jayden already knows or has something to narrow it down," another unknown suggested, male this time.
"Well, all I know is that we have to wipe these sickos off the map." That was Tony.
"We'll need to alert SHIELD about this. They might even have information," Steve said, and someone made a noise of disagreement.
"Don't delude yourself, Cap. All they'll do is stick their noses in. Hell, they might even try taking the kid away," Tony said, resolved.
"Maybe it would be best if-"
YOU ARE READING
Unforeseen¹
FanficJYD2641 had enough. In her seven years, she's only ever known the cruel hands of her doctors, who were determined to make her the next Winter Soldier. All she'd ever known was death, pain, and fear. Instead of a parent's loving embrace, she had the...
