Project: A Stark Winter

Chapter Twenty-Four: Choices and Consequences

After the events of the night prior, you had been worried about what the team would say and had feared further disappointment to the group. You had made it over the hurdle that was Tony Stark, but the approval from the team meant so much to you. Quickly you showered and dressed in regular clothes, glad to be free from the black, satin dress; tiptoeing your way down the hall and making yourself small to avoid being scolded a second time today. Rounding the corner to the kitchen your eyes fell on the team as they milled around their Sunday morning routines. Steve sat in a leather armchair in the adjoining living room sipping coffee and reading a book. Sam and Clint were debating with Natasha on which of them had the best sharp shooting ability while Bucky sat and gloomily ate a bowl of cereal. You got lost for a moment watching them all so casually go about their morning as you study their features and allow a calm smile to filter over your face. A pair of small hands grab your sides in a ticklish squeeze as they pull you back into the shadow of the hallway. You spin around and are greeted with the beaming face of Wanda; Vision in tow. She holds your hands in her own as she practically bounces from excitement, wiggles her eyebrows, and tugs your fingers.
"Soooo? How was it?" She begs you, her voice a soft whisper to keep her voice from prying ears. You can't help but return her smile as you blush and look away.
"It was nice." You admit in a murmur causing Wanda to quietly squeal and pull you into a hug. Her arms held you tightly and you could feel the love and happiness that she felt for you. She leaned back slightly but kept her face close to yours. The unspoken of 'did you guys do it' hangs in the air as the blush spreads its way down your chest and to your ears. Wanda takes in your blushing form and gasps.
"You will tell me everything !"
"Later, Wanda. I'm so hungry I think my stomach is eating itself." You chuckle and turn back toward the kitchen, once again quietly walking into the space and scrounging for something to eat. As you turn from the cabinets, armed with a pop tart, you look up to see Bucky glaring at you. You tilt your head in confusion, silently challenging him to say what's on his mind. He rolls his eyes and roughly drops his cereal bowl into the sink before storming down the hallway toward his room. Wanda, Clint, and Sam all look up from their debate at the commotion of clattering dishes and watch after Bucky as he broodily makes his exit from the kitchen and then back at you in question.
"What was that all about?" Clint asks innocently, taking a big bite of bagel and talking through his chewing. Natasha makes a disgusted face as she shakes her head and fixes you with a knowing look. Her lips tilt up in a snarky smirk as she leans back against the counter and crosses her arms.
"How are you feeling, dorogoy?" Natasha says loudly, batting her eyelashes innocently as she asks the question. The heat of embarrassment works its way over your skin again as you open and close your mouth; sputtering to find a response. Wanda giggles behind you as she leans her elbows on the counter and peers up at your shocked face. Sam and Clint share a confused look, not following the body language of the moment; completely oblivious to your torment.
"I feel fine." You mutter, your voice is strained and gritty. Your eyes begged Natasha to drop this, but that only spurred her more.
"Not sore from yesterday, then?" She asks, sipping her coffee casually as she watches you struggle to keep composure.
"Why would you be sore? Did you train too hard yesterday?" Sam questions, his brow creasing as he tries to understand what hidden meaning Natasha is getting at.
"I thought Tony said no more missions. Why would she be training?" Clint cuts in, his eyes darting between the Western-style show-down happening between you and Nat. Silence hung in the air as you struggled to fill it and give an answer to the implied question Natasha was asking. You took in a shaky breath as an A.I. voice called out to the tower's inhabitants.
"Ms. Stark, your presence is requested in the med bay for a check-up with Dr. Lee. She is waiting." Friday chimes in her cool, calm voice.
"Thank you, Friday." You respond quickly before making a mad dash for the elevator. As the doors shut you release a long breath and silently thank the universe for the escape from interrogation. The elevator swiftly takes you to the lab floor and you step out into the bright lights as your eyes fall on Dr. Lee's slender form leaning over a microscope.
"Dr. Lee? You wanted to see me?" You call to her as you enter the clinically clean space. She sits up and beams at you with a warm smile and gestures to the exam table.
"Please, have a seat. I'm almost done." She announces before turning back to the sample she was working on documenting. You swing your legs back and forth as you wait for her to finish up. Seemingly satisfied with the results she finds, she gives a huff and turns casually to you in her rolling chair and smiles.
"So, how have we been feeling?" She asks with genuine sincerity. You felt instantly at ease and your shoulders slump as nerves melt away.
"I'm great actually. I haven't had a nightmare in weeks and have had zero instances of black goo emergencies." You say with a soft chuckle.
"That's great news! It means the treatment is working. Can I do another sample?" Dr. Lee asks, pulling a tray of needles and vials from the side table and reaching for your wrists. You nod your consent as she sets about finding a vein to take a few blood samples.
"I'm trying to isolate the particles causing the most damage. We seem to have put the issue into stasis but I don't want to bank on that long term." She explains as she quickly and efficiently does her draws. She tilts the vials and then places them into a centrifuge before turning to you with a new vial in her hands. The liquid inside was bright blue and you squint to see its bioluminescent color.
"What's that?" You ask, concern and confusion lacing your words as you subconsciously lean away. Dr. Lee takes a seat back at your side and hands you the needle.
"It's the latest formula that will help with your dreams. Since your blood is changing we need to up the dose." She states matter-of-factly, her words coated in a sweet calm tone. You eye the swirling liquid and then shrug and hand it back.
"Alright, I'm just not the biggest fan of needles and things."
"I understand y/n. It's a lot to ask to be prodded and poked all the time. But this is the only solution I have for now."
"Choices and consequences I guess..." You murmur as you trail off into silence. Dr. Lee doesn't respond but instead finds your vein and begins slowly injecting the blue liquid into your system. It burns slightly as it goes in, but you grit your teeth and take solace in the fact that tonight you would sleep well.
"There. All done." Dr. Lee announces as she places a Band-Aid over the tiny injection site. She smiles brightly at you as she sets the syringe aside and crosses her arms; leaning back in her chair. She fixes you with a look as she winks at you.
"Fun night last night, huh?" She prods as you gasp and look away.
"Does everyone know about it?"
"Everyone in this tower at least though it was kept as a 'curfew break' instead of...well. Mr. Stark was...not quiet about it."
"That's humiliating." You grumble as you cover your face with your hands. Dr. Lee laughs as she rolls forward and pulls your hands away from your face.
"Maybe a little...but it's just because he cares. They all do."
"I know. I just-I just wish I could go back and fix that. It was a stupid choice and I-"
"Well changing things is how you got into this mess in the first place." Dr. Lee interjects, shaking her head and standing up. She walks over to the centrifuge station and begins running her tests. You sit quietly and watch her as you take in everything that happened. Chewing your bottom lip nervously, you realize she was right. She turns to see your dejected form and gives a sad smile.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feeling, y/n."
"You're right though. Am I free to go?" You both remain silent for a moment as she looks you over.
"Well, you know I'm always here. If you ever need anything. Stop by in a few days for a check-up, okay?" You nod and hop down from the exam table and drag yourself to the door. Today was going to be a long day.