Luminous//bucky barnes

two//carmen

    I got home two days later after work to find a red haired woman in all black sitting in a chair in my living room, petting Ginger quietly. I involuntarily gasped the second I realized I wasn't alone, and then began figuring out how I could escape the situation. Is she like those other people who want to use me for my powers? Have they really found me again? God, I almost wish that guy from the other day was here... "Relax, Carmen, I just want to talk," she spoke in a calm voice.

    "Who are you? Who do you work for? How did you find me?" I questioned her, keeping my distance and readying my key in my hand as a pathetic attempt at self defense.

    "My name is Natasha, Agent Natasha Romanoff. I work for S.H.E.I.L.D., as a member of the Avengers team. We've known about you for a while," she replied calmly. "I just want to talk."

    "What do you want with  me?" I asked her, lowering my "weapon" slightly and inching closer to my living room.

    " S.H.E.I.L.D. knows about you; about your gift. In fact- do you mind? Showing me?" She asked suddenly, her intrigue seemingly growing.

    "Sure," I agreed hesitantly. Lifting my free hand, i focused it at the lamp standing next her her, forcing it to flash on with ease. Her eyes widened, looking at the lamp in amazement before looking back to me.

    "That's so cool. Okay, back to business. Carmen, you've obviously got an amazing gift. On behalf of S.H.E.I.L.D. and the Avengers, we'd really love to have you join our team. You would be under full government protection, be trained by the best, most trusted professionals, and you'd be helping protect the entire planet. I can understand that with you being 20 this may seem overwhelming, but with the wellbeing of humanity, I think it would be in your best interest to accept this," she revealed. Okay, what the fuck?

    "W-what?" I asked her disbelievingly. Me, a 20 year old genetic freak, an Avenger? Okay, the genetic freak thing I could understand; but I was still 20 years old. Come on. Like that could possibly end well for anyone. I barely feel confident enough to use a cash register, much less become a freaking Avenger.  "Um... thanks for the offer, Agent Romanoff, but, I really don't think that's such a good idea. I don't think that would help anybody," I declined.

    She sighed disappointedly before standing up. "I understand. But please, try to reconsider. We would really appreciate having you." She slipped me a card with a phone number on it before speaking again. "If you change your mind, This is how to contact us."

    "Thank you for the offer," I told her before she walked out of my door. I felt myself subconsciously un-tense as soon as I heard the door close. I walked out to my balcony and sat in the garden chair closest to me, looking out as far over the city as I could see. Ginger followed behind me, sitting down next to my chair and resting her head in my lap for me to pet her. I stared blankly at the rooftops of the city surrounding me for a few minutes. Watching the colors in the sky fade from a darkening blue, to different hues of pink, yellow, orange, and purple, I let my thoughts wander in every direction. I think of the mysterious man from two nights ago who saved me from the creep who was following me. I've been thinking about him a lot, lately. I've been asking myself questions I know only he can answer. Why did he do it? Who is he? Why did he flee so suddenly? Time goes by and I loose track of time; I see that the time on my phone is "10:48".

    I stand up from my chair and stretch my arms above my head and move my neck to the side, and I catch a glimpse of something shiny reflecting light from my side of the street move across the top of a building opposite of me. I take a closer look at it and I realize it matches the profile of a man... and then it clicks in my brain. It's the guy from the street. Which also means it could potentially be the same guy from the news. Which means he's dangerous. Which also means, how dangerous can he be? If it's the same guy, he did protect you two nights ago... But why was he running? How long was he sitting on the rooftop, watching... watching what, exactly? The lack of cars gracing the streets? The slight breeze ruffling the last few remaining leaves on the trees? I doubt he was watching a sunset just for the hell of it, especially not if he was a wanted man.