The Shadow (Book 1)

Chapter 16

I've Got Something to Show You

She snuggled further under the duvet, too tired to get up. The feeling of comfort was definitely something she had missed. Scarlet was sure Tony wouldn't mind if she has a little lay in. He had to have been just as exhausted as she was. Huffing, she rolled over. The light made her crack her eyes open a little. However, she wished she hadn't moved; because stood leaning on the door frame was a figure. A very familiar figure.

''You had to wake up, didn't you?'' The laugh that followed was met by a groan from Scarlet.

''How long have you been stood there?'' she grumbled. Laying on her, side Scarlet stared at the billionaire, who'd now passed the threshold standing in her room.

''Long enough,'' Tony Shrugged. With another, groan Scarlet grabbed the pillow from the other side of the bed, hurling it at him. Unfortunately, he caught it before it could hit him.

''Calm down, not like I purposely woke you up,'' he raised an eyebrow, watching as the grouchy; brunette shifted to sit up against the headboard, gripping the duvet to cover herself. Scarlet wasn't one for showing her pyjamas off to her boss.

''You didn't let me go back to sleep, though,'' she glared at him, running a hand through her; bedraggled bed hair.

''You were going to need my help to get up anyway,'' he rolled his eyes as she frowned at him, ''you legs out of action Scar, no way you're walking on that,'' Tony gestured to her wounded leg, conceded under the duvet still. Scarlet gave it a wiggle but regretted it the second a piercing wave of pain overcame her.

''You want some help?'' Watching her face contort in a mixture of tiredness and pain, Tony stepped forward, placing his hand affectionately on her arm, ''Peppers not here, so you got me, you lucky girl,'' she snorted as he flashed her a smile. Tony was only nice when he wanted something.

''No, I think I'll be fine,'' Sarcasm dripped from her lips. He laughed moving, away to fetch the wheelchair that Pepper had folded away for Scarlet the night before, ''you going help me get dressed too? Cause I don't,'' she added, watching him move over to her wardrobe.

''Nope, don't worry about that, I'm just going to get some clothes out for you,'' Tony spoke, flicking through the racks of blouses, blazers and skirts hunting, for something more casual. ''We're not going to be going anywhere in public, for now. Jeans and a t-shirt will be fine, right?'' He turned around holding, up a pair of dark baggy jeans; that would accommodate her wrapped leg and a light pink T-shirt with a funky looking logo. Scarlet didn't have many casual clothes in her possession, so she just nodded, letting him place the clothes on her bed.

''Now get dressed. I've got something to show you,'' Tony winked, spinning on his heel, leaving her to get dressed. However, before he shut the door, a question that had been niggling in the back of Scarlet's mind burst from her lips.

''How long have I been asleep?''

''Two days.''

''Wow,'' Scarlet's mouth gapped; She'd overslept by a long shot, no wonder she still felt exhausted. Shifting her body around, she grabbed the clothes Tony had left for her. Thankfully she kept her underwear in the draw closet to the bed, meaning she didn't need to go through the embarrassment of having her boss rifle through her bras and knickers. The very thought of which made her want to vomit.

Eventually dressed, which was no easy feat, especially with only one hand and an immobile leg. Scarlet with, help from the wheelchair, made her way out of her room and into the hall. Tony needn't have told her where he'd be; she headed straight down towards the garage. At the entrance to the staircase that led to the garage were a pair of crutches leant against the glass door, a sticky note stuck to one read:

Sorry, this was the best I could do. Get Jarvis to call me if you're struggling.

Tony ;)

She rolled her eyes at the winky face before grabbing the plastic crutches. Heaving herself out of the chair, she adjusted her weight and balance before taking a couple of hesitant, first steps. Once comfortable with finding her footing, Scarlet found herself opening the glass door and facing the deep dive that was the stairs down to the garage. Taking a couple deep breaths, she pressed one crutch down on the top step, followed cautiously by the next. She continued this method till finding herself out of steps.

''May I say, fantastic effort, Doctor,'' Jarvis greeted Scarlet as he scanned her palm that would allow her to enter the garage.

''Thank you, Jarv,'' she replied with a small smile. For an artificial intelligence, he sure was much nicer than most people.

''Tony?'' Scarlet called. His back was to her in the centre of the room. She caught a glimpse of metal pieces everywhere, including what looked suspiciously like boots attached to his own feet.

''Oh hey, Scar. I'll explain in a minute; just let me test this first,'' She watched closely from a distance as he murmured commands to the various robots surrounding him before centring himself in the frame of a camera that stood perched on a tripod opposite.

''We're gonna see if 10% thrust capacity achieves lift and three, two one,'' Immediately Tony went flying, hitting the ceiling and landing with a thud in the same place he'd been stood moments before.

''Oh my god, Tony,'' Scarlet shrieked, hobbling over, with the help of the crutches, to him, ''are you ok?''

''Yeah, yeah, all good,'' he groaned, picking himself up.

''Going tell me what you're doing before I watch you kill yourself?'' She stared not only at him but at the mass of metal, tools and robots littered around the room.

He huffed taking, the boots off before standing and sitting on the table behind him that wasn't full of tools,'' You know the suit we built in the cave?'' He asked. Scarlet nodded, raising an eyebrow.

''I'm trying to make another one, but better.''

''Tony,'' she started started

''Look, I know it's a risk, but I can't just sit and watch the world destroy itself, and I could really use your help on this. I mean, that arm you made was extraordinary. I still don't get how you managed to make it with one working hand,'' Tony was rambling, with no signs of slowing down. Scarlet reached a hand out to touch his shoulder and shake him.

''Tony, I'll help,'' he looked up at her, a smile falling across his features along with a look of surprise.

''Really.''

''Yes, really. But you have to know I'm sure I made my arm when I had to two still because you saw how little I could do to help in that cave, let alone create a whole fully functioning metal arm,'' Scarlet explained, leaning next to him on the table he was perched on.

''So you knew you were going to lose an arm?'' Tony questioned, his forehead creasing as he tried to comprehend her words.

''No, no, I think it was originally made for someone else. I don't think it was finished. I just modified it to fit my forearm, not a whole one,'' Scarlet's thoughts drifted as she, spoke; the taste of metal filling her mouth. Blood. She'd bitten her lip by accident.

''Who was it originally for?''

''I don't know,'' she replied, turning to him. In truth, she had an idea but wasn't sure. Those that had kidnapped them had mentioned the name The Winter Solider. It meant nothing when Scarlet had first heard the name, but now. Now she felt whoever or whatever they were, were the key to her past.