Who the hell am I (english version)

welcome to the Avengers

The past few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster—a constant up and down, chaos and decisions that brought us to the brink of despair and at the same time shaped our future. The revelation of Hydra and everything associated with it has deeply affected us, changed us. They didn't just want to tear apart the world around us but also break us into pieces. I keep asking myself if I'm really cut out for this life—if I couldn't even see the betrayal of my best friend happening right in front of my eyes. It showed me that everything I ever believed in could be a lie. That even my memories, in the wrong hands, can be used as weapons and turned against me. Hydra tried for decades to take everything from me—the life I deserved, the freedom to just be myself, to have a happy family and grow old with the man I love. But they no longer have any power over me—never again. So much has been taken from me, but I won't let it break me. Even though I had wished for something different—I won't let this past hold me back, because what matters now is what's ahead.

Steve managed to get in touch with Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. Of course, he immediately knew who Steve was. I don't even want to imagine how much Howard told his son about Steve. Now the time has come. I take a deep breath and look up at the glass façade of the building. It's gigantic, a monolith of glass and steel, towering majestically against the blue sky. It's slightly removed from New York, surrounded by forests, and I wonder what the view from the top must be like, how far you can see. This is the Avengers' headquarters, and it could become our new home. I glance over at the others, who also wear a strange mix of joy, excitement, and skepticism on their faces. "To a new beginning," says Steve, as we walk slowly but confidently toward the building. I had expected my nervousness to increase with each step toward the entrance, but my heartbeat calms with every step, the light dizziness in my head disappears, and my mind becomes clear. I don't know what it is about this place, but I've felt incredibly safe from the first moment as we enter the lobby. It's flooded with sunlight pouring through the high windows, which stretch all the way to the ceiling. My boots clack on the polished marble floor, and as I glance around, I can't help but hold my breath. The building is very open, with many floors arranged like islands, accessible by stairs. Every step echoes here, and the air is filled with a pleasant, clean scent.

A man in a suit comes down the stairs, and he couldn't look more like his father. That's Tony Stark. He moves with the same ease that Howard did, and as I stand in front of him for the first time, I'm not quite sure what to make of him—an interesting mix of wealthy genius and laid-back guy. "Stark," Steve greets him with a slight nod and shakes his hand. Nat and he already know each other from the past, making their greeting a bit more familiar. Stark also shakes Sam's hand, and when he gets to me, a slight smile plays on his lips, which I return. "Mrs. Barnes, I've heard a lot about you. I must admit, I'm impressed, and I don't say that often." I'll take that as a compliment and thank him somewhat awkwardly as he shakes my hand too. When he turns around to give us a tour of the building, I glance over at Nat. She presses her lips together to keep from laughing, and I nudge her with my elbow. "Was that a good sign?" I whisper to her, and she has even more difficulty holding back her laughter. "Yes, it was, but you should've seen your face." We exchange glances, and now I have to stifle my laughter as Stark leads us through the headquarters.

First, we're shown the open floors, which are easily accessible via the stairs. From each one, there's a breathtaking view of New York, a view I'll probably never get enough of. On one floor, there's a bar in a modern style with sleek furnishings, and it seems to be stocked with an incredible amount of alcohol if I'm interpreting the many bottles on the illuminated shelves correctly. Not far from there, a sofa lounge and other seating areas look incredibly comfortable. On the next floor are pool tables, gaming consoles, and more chairs at tables. Large screens and speakers hang everywhere. If I'm not mistaken, this place seems to be meant for celebration. The next staircase leads to a rooftop terrace, where a glass pool stands, offering a perfect view of the setting sun at this moment. Everything here is incredibly modern and equipped with Stark technology. Stark snaps his fingers, and the pool lights come on automatically, while a voice on his phone speaks to him—artificial intelligence to control the building. Not bad.