Blind Success {Book 1 - Blinded Trilogy}

27 - Adapting

"Adapting is a natural way for people to adapt to their environment." Joe Barton

"The more adapt, the more interesting you are." Martha Stewart

It had been about a month since Zachery had left for Asgard, Thor had traveled between the two realms a number of times and every time he would hand me a letter that Zachery had written to me. At the current moment in time, I was sitting on a couch, hugging the life out of one of my many pillow pets. Alone.

The Avengers had all gone out for the night after Tony suggested they celebrate being 'alive' and decided that since alcohol was involved, I wasn't allowed to accompany them. Loki had disappeared to some place I was not aware of, leaving me in the company of Rex and my pillow pets.

I was watching something on TV but I couldn't focus on it, my mind wandering. I was surprised that they had left my alone considering that they weren't to leave me by myself because of the changes that had been happening. My height had increased rapidly, with me now standing at around 6 foot 2; I didn't have to look up at Loki that much anymore.

FitzSimmons were overjoyed at my molecular changes, taking every opportunity to study me. I had effectively been made their lab rat. No one tried to change it; no one told me that I could choose not to be their 'project'. I'm stuck with it, so I go through the motions; withdrawn from the real world and watching as the world goes by in a blur.

Rex jumped up beside me and rested his head on my lap. I scratched behind his ears. "Guess it's just you and me Rex."

"I wouldn't exactly say that." I looked up at the doorway to see Natalia standing there.

"You're still here?"

"Obviously... I'm still under the protection of Fury and I can't exactly go anywhere." I nodded slowly before looking back at the TV. I felt the couch dip as she sat beside me. "You've changed since I last saw you."

"That's the understatement of the century."

"Wanna talk about it?" I look at her, confused.

"Do you really care?" Hurt flashed across her face.

"I may not have the best record and have random bursts of anger every now and then, but being an older sister, I tend to watch out for those younger than me, despite the family issues that my loved ones and I have encountered over the years."

"Like this whole hiding out situation?"

"I guess so. When Simon died, I felt a need to protect Jemma as much as I could. Being the oldest of us three, I had felt somewhat guilty that I hadn't been able to protect Simon." She looked at her lap, twiddling her thumbs.

"What happened to Simon?"

"He and some of his friends decided to go out clubbing one night, to celebrate his 21st. He had been waiting for what felt like forever to be that age, just so he could legally drink. Our parents weren't home, they had gone away for business that week and me being the oldest, I was left in charge. I got a phone call a few hours later to say that there had been an accident, Simon had died instantly. One of his drunken friends was driving and wrapped the car around a tree. The three friends made it to the hospital, one of them dying a few moments later. The other two left immobile and in wheelchairs. They blame themselves... but not as much as I blame myself for what happened."

"But you're the oldest, I'm the youngest. We are different." I get up and walk away with Rex padding along beside me. You might call me a bitch for walking away, guess I am one.

I make my way to the training room and almost sigh in relief at seeing the room. It's the one place I know I can hit as hard as I want without hurting anyone. "JARVIS, shut and lock all access points to this room, no one enters... And no one leaves."