𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ Steve Rogers

A Fun Demonstration ~ 14

"So, where is she now?" Natasha inquires of Steve, the team arranging themselves once more within the compact holding room where Evangeline had been confined earlier in the day.

"I locked her in my room," Steve delivers his nonchalant reply, prompting perplexed glances from the team, save for Tony, who merely sighs resignedly. Steve looks at them all, his forehead creased in response to their reactions. "Would you prefer Eva to freely roam the compound once more?" he defends his actions, met with silence from the team, their faces now conveying reluctant agreement with his prompt decision-making.

"Okay, go and fetch her. I'll have a chat with her, while Wanda attempts to delve into her mind," Natasha concludes.

"No, we all need to go. She won't be able to influence all our minds simultaneously, or at least I don't think she can," Wanda adds, not entirely convinced by her deductions but shrugging nonetheless. The team acknowledges the plan and swiftly takes their positions.

Meanwhile, Evangeline is busily snooping around Captain's quarters. Although she isn't searching for anything specific, impatience grows within her with each passing second of confinement.

"I hope your 'Little Miss Innocent' act has worked so far. What's the next trick up your sleeve, Evangeline? If we weren't on a time constraint before, we definitely are now," Ultron interrupts the silence, his usual dissatisfied drawl cutting through. Eva drops the book she had been flipping through back onto Steve's desk with a thud.

"Each time you decide to make an unwelcomed appearance in my mind, have you ever considered saying 'Hello' or maybe asking how I am?" she retorts, frowning as she fixes the book back into its correct place. Ultron ignites that sharp pain in her head as a warning.

"Evangeline," he warns lowly.

She sighs deeply, rubbing her head as the pain subsides. "D'accord! Got the message... Why did I have to be the one to have you stuck in my head?" she mutters to no one in particular and sits herself upon the edge of Steve's bed, looking glum.

"Well, that's the point; you don't know," the AI responds casually, compelling her into deep thought. She is silent for a moment.

"No, I don't... Why are you in my head?" Eva questions carefully, attempting to recall the reason for all of this.

"We have discussed this countless times, Evangeline. I am in the dark as much as you are as to why?" he sighs, not wanting to delve into this discussion right now.

Eva isn't convinced, but she keeps quiet, mainly due to the sound of the door unlocking, drawing her attention. Steve, Tony, Vision, Natasha, and Wanda walk in.

"Oh, so you brought the cavalry?" Eva directs this question to Steve, her usual smirk returning as she straightens on the edge of the bed, both hands placed firmly on either side of her. This, of course, earns her a majority of unimpressed glances from the team.

"We have questions," Natasha is the one to answer, arms folded, and she steps past Steve, not allowing him to give Eva the satisfaction of a response.

"And I suppose you all believe I have the answers?" Eva is amused but complies, getting to her feet and allowing the Avengers to lead the way.

***

Now confined in the small room, Eva takes a calculated seat in the supposed hot seat. Five pairs of glaring eyes fixate on her, everyone standing around except Natasha, who has claimed the seat on the opposite side of the table. Eva folds her arms and leans back, casting a raised brow to each of them, anticipating the onset of questions.