Speed Is Not Everything *under editing*

Chapter 2: Awakening to Surprise

As I slowly became conscious, my mind registered two unfamiliar voices talking. However, when I opened my eyes, I saw two very famous people discussing something quietly. I was about to say something, when an unhappy throb goes through my head. I try to raise my hand to rub my head, but a clinking noise stops me. That's when I notice the handcuffs attaching one of my wrists to the bed. It was also due to that noise that I brought attention to myself.

"She awakes!" Famous person number one, Tony Stark exclaims. I glare at his loud voice before groaning out a couple sentences.

"How long have I been out? Also, can I get something for this annoying headache?"

While Tony goes to get some medicine for me, I turn to Bruce Banner, the other famous person in the room.

"You've been out for about a week,'' he says. "We were honestly starting to get worried about you." I scoff.

"Why would you be worried about me? After all, I was an assassin for Hydra."

Bruce shrugs and Tony comes back with some advil and a cup of water. Silently thanking him, I take the water and the medicine and gulp it down. Once finished, I spoke again.

"Where am I?" I ask. Tony was the reply.

"Stark Tower", he says. Well, that should have been obvious.

"Alright, well tell Captain America thanks for knocking me out", I grumble, kind of annoyed at the walking American flag. I shift around a little, and look at the handcuffs. Unfortunately, I knew I wouldn't be uncuffed for a while, due to my past crimes.

"So... Shadow... what's your real name?" Tony asks. I look at him, unimpressed.

"You really think I'm going to tell that to a man I just met?" Tony looked taken aback at my words, which caused me to chuckle. "I'm kidding. Name's Alejandrea. Don't know my last name, so don't bother asking."

Tony looked at me curiously, but spoke instead of staying silent. "That's a cool name, reminds me of someone I once knew. I'm-"

I cut him off there. "Tony Stark. Also known as Ironman. Your friend here is Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk."

Both were a little shocked at my knowing, but Bruce was the one to speak.

"How did you know about that?"

I roll my eyes. "Kinda hard not to know after what happened with the chitauri and all that. Besides, Hydra thought it would be best for me to know any potential threats."

Standing up, I stretch, ignoring their shocked looks. I walk towards the door, and they follow close behind. Tony was the one to speak.

"How did you get past the cuffs?" he asks. I roll my eyes.

"I'm a trained assassin, I think I know how to get past a little lock", I mutter. Tony blinks before shaking his head.

"Well... I guess it's okay to show you around... you haven't shown any threat yet", Bruce says nervously, glancing at Tony. Tony laughs.

"Even if the rest of the team isn't okay with it, it's not like we can just put her in a normal jail", he says. I roll my eyes.

"She can hear you, Tony, and she would rather not be put into a cell", I say as I continue to stroll along. "Besides, I'm done with that entire assassin's thing. I've been trying to escape for ages. This is the first time I've managed to stay away from Hydra."

Tony sighs before taking the lead, showing me to a large room where I noticed most of the Avengers there. Tony was the one to speak.

"Hey, guys, she's awake", Tony says. The other Avengers glance at me before standing up, Steve Rogers watching me carefully. I roll my eyes.

"Relax, Captain. I'm not going to attack anyone. As you can see, I'm outnumbered, and I don't have any of my weapons. I'd be out before you could even say SHIELD."

Stever Rogers sighs, before looking to Tony. "Do you have a room she could borrow?"

Tony nods. "What do you think this tower is for? I have plenty of places she stay."

Steve nods before looking to a redhead. "Nat, go with her and make sure she stays out of trouble."

Natasha Romanoff nods, moving towards me. She was tense, obviously ready to take me down in case I acted out. Tony looks at us before smirking.

"Nat, can you lend her one of your dresses for the party tonight?" he asks as we walk to the elevator.

"Party?" I ask, though no one answered my question.

"Of course", Natasha answers Tony's question. "Though I don't see the purpose of having a former assassin going to your party."

"Says the former assassin", I mutter under my breath, though I know Natasha heard me. It was quiet the rest of the elevator ride, as well as the walk to the room they were letting me use. Tony leaves and Natasha sighs.

"Alejandrea, how did you escape from Hydra. I was so worried, but I was forced to ignore my worry during my time in the red room."

"First off, why were you worried about me? Second off, how do you know me?"

Natasha rolls her eyes. "I was worried about you because they took you as a baby. And I know you because you're my sister."

I raise an eyebrow. "Sister?"

"Adopted sister", Natasha corrects. "We found you out in the streets, wrapped in a swaddle of blankets."

"So that's what they meant by the fact that my sister was an assassin. They must not have known that I was adopted", I murmur.

"You taking this well", Natasha says quietly. I shake my head.

"No, I'm silently freaking out on the inside", I say. "But that doesn't matter. Want to explain what's going on with this party thing?"

Natasha nods. "Sure. Basically we found Loki's scepter at a Hydra base, and now Tony wants to celebrate."

I nod, understanding where Tony's coming from. "So... you've got a dress I can borrow?"

"Yeah. Let me go get it for you."

Natasha leaves the room, and I'm left pondering why all this is happening. This has just been... an insane amount of information for me to take in. However, I was unable to continue my thoughts due to Natasha coming back in.

"Go take a shower, and I'll lay out your dress for you to put on afterwards,'' she says. I nod and walk to the bathroom that extended off the room I was in. I took a nice, long, warm shower, loving the feeling of any dirt coming off of my body. When I climb out, I quickly dry off my body, and pat down my brown hair to keep water from dripping down my back. After that, I blow dry my hair, brushing through it with a brush I found. Soon, my hair is damp, and so I stepped out of the bathroom to see a beautiful blue gray sleeveless dress with a white jacket waiting for me on the bed. I quickly put on the dress, ignoring the jacket for now, and admiring it in a full length body mirror. The dress went down to about my knees in front, and about halfway down my calfs in back. Natasha walks back in and smiles at the dress. She looks at the white jacket in my hands before shaking her head.

"Forget the jacket. It looks better without it, '' she says. I toss it back onto the bed, and Natasha quickly finishes drying my hair. Then she puts it into a twisted half ponytail, with several small blue flowers in it. She takes one look at my face and shakes her head.

"No need for makeup, your face is beautiful just the way it is."

I nod, before admiring myself in the mirror. I looked absolutely stunning. I loved to dress up, but if I was being honest... this was the first social event I've been to in a long time. At least no one would recognize me as The Shadow. Natasha and I walk over to the elevator and go down to where the party will be held. As we wait for guests to arrive, I spoke with a few of the Avengers, and started to trust them a little bit more than I had before. I could only hope they trusted me a little bit more as well.