The Reaper's Keeper

Chapter 4

You gently took Natasha's offering hand in yours once again and allowed her to take you in front of the two other people you had just spotted in the room.

"Gentlemen, this is Y/N..." Natasha stepped out of your view to introduce you. You take a curious glance at them. They both gave you a kind smile as they stood side by side from each other.

The shorter one is the first to approach you, extending his hand out presumably for you. "Welcome to the Avenger's tower kid, my name's Tony Stark and you can call this fossil beside me, Capsicle." He pats the other guy's back playfully. When you didn't move to shake his hand, he clasped his hands together.

"Very funny Tony. Don't listen to him, I'm Steve." He only smiled in your direction and his smile radiated warm that made your wariness waver around them for a bit. You have a faint recognition on his voice but you can't remember where you've heard it.

You could only nod at them as you're unsure on what to do. "Oh, before I forget. Don't be startled if you hear this voice. JARVIS, please introduce yourself to Y/N." Tony added shortly.

"Hello, Miss Y/N. I am JARVIS. The tower's virtual artificial intelligence resident. Please allow me to assist you during your stay." The robotic noise out of nowhere doesn't surprise you.

"As JARVIS said, do not hesitate to tell him, including us, if you need help with anything." Tony offers.

"Why... why are you being..." You quietly ask, struggling to find the words. Kindness just simply doesn't exist for you. You don't even know what it's called.

"Hey, don't think about it. One thing I can assure you of is that you're safe here." Natasha gently squeezed your hand in hers.

You don't doubt that. However, you're wondering if it's a smart idea for you to be here with them. You don't believe you're deserving of the things they're giving you.

"We'll continue this tour, then I'll get her to her room, okay?" The two men waved at both of you as you continue your journey.

You followed Natasha around looking like a child. She showed you the kitchen, as well as the other communal areas in the tower. When her tour was over, she said she'd take you to your room. You presumed that she's taking you back to the cell.

Instead of the familiar route, she led you to a different floor. You both stopped in front of a door. "My room's just there," she points across to a room before opening the door, "and this will be yours."

Once inside, you let go of her hand and turned to her. "I – I don't think I should be here." You started to fiddle with the hem of your shirt and averted your eyes from her questioning gaze.

"I'm not taking you back to that cell, you're not a prisoner here."

"No, I meant... here," running your hand through your unkempt hair, you risk a glance back at her, "in this tower. With y-you and the others."

"And why is that?" she says, crossing her arms. You can't exactly tell her why.

"The lab— "

"— Is empty Y/N. There's no one there except for those things and you when we found it. We can't exactly bring you back there especially on your condition."

"I—I don't know if I could be of any use. I barely know anything." Is all that you can come up with.

"That's not all, Y/N. Look, I'm— we're worried about you. My colleague, Bruce, identified the presence of gamma radiation on your body. It's dangerous, Y/N." You furrowed your brows at her. You're not aware of that.

"You could die. Heck, you should've died in the mere presence of it in the first place." You didn't realize how close she's getting to you. You lightly flinched when you felt her hand on your arm. "Allow us to help."