She couldn't stay sitting any longer. Her hands hastily unbuckled her seatbelt, and ignoring the protests of those nearby, she strode directly to the right wing. Theo watched, his head coming to rest on his paws after he claimed her vacant seat.
"There you are!" Curls snarled as soon as she moved into sight. "I'm going to kill you! Murderer!"
Her body jerked as though she had been hit. The words cut deep.
"Please, just listen. I-"
"No, shut up! Shut up!"
"Jayden, get back to your seat!" Steve, sitting by the head of the cot, commanded, his jaw tight.
She didn't glance at him, focused only on Curls. "I'm your friend! Hydra has done something to your head! Snap out of it!"
"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!" Curls hysterically repeated, slamming her head against her pillow. "Don't listen! She's one of them!"
It was uncertain whether Curls was telling this to Steve or to herself.
"Again, I'm going to have to sedate you if you don't calm down," Steve repeated. Tony, coming up from behind, placed a hand on Jayden's shoulder to steer her out.
Her teeth clenched, and without looking, she flicked her hand, using gravity to push him away. She heard him stumble, and she kept him and the others away with a small gravity barrier.
"She's probably here because they told her to! You've got to believe me!"
"You're crazy. I would rather cut off my own arm!" Jayden snapped, taking a step forward for emphasis.
"Jayden, please, you're making it worse." Bruce urged from the side, but she was unmoved.
"Get me out! I haven't done anything wrong!" she yelled, and her back arched from how she strained against the bonds keeping her to the bed.
"I'm sorry. I warned you. Bruce?" Steve turned to the man, who nodded and prepared a sedative.
As soon as he administered it into her IV, Curls went limp. Then, after a quick, relieved sigh, all attention turned to Jayden. She didn't acknowledge it. Instead, she didn't stray from the sleeping body, her expression carefully flat.
"You should be careful not to let her put her hands together. She can teleport." She numbly informed, releasing gravity.
"Jayden..." Tony placed his hand lightly on her back, but she flinched, his touch making her wounds flare.
Her body twisted to return to her seat, but paused as Tony remained still, his palm up in front of him, eyes wide in horror.
"Okay, Bruce needs to take a look at you right now."
"It's nothing," she disagreed, and his stare turned onto her, disbelieving. If it weren't for Steve and Bruce behind her, she would've backed up.
"Nothing? This looks like a whole lot of somethings to me, Jayden," he gritted, turning his hand to reveal the blood that coated it.
Her breath hitched. It leaked through the bandages. It must be worse than she thought.
"Okay, Bruce?" Steve called, taking wide, urgent strides towards her.
"I don't want to." She protested, trying to back away, but there was nowhere to go. The Avengers were already around her.
"You've got no choice."
"Why not, Jayden?" Steve questioned, his voice steady compared to Tony's intensity.
"Because it's nothing!" she seethed. "It's been the same for a month. I'm used to it! You said they wouldn't get me again, and they did! I needed you, but you weren't there. None of you were!"
YOU ARE READING
Unforeseen¹
FanfictionJYD2641 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...
