Ice Cold Hearts

Chapter 5

*My POV*

I've been with the Avengers for almost a week. A very awkward week. Pietro and Wanda tried their best to help me fit in, but I stuck out like a sore thumb. I am the only other blonde in this place. Practically everyone is a brunette in this super hero team.

Well, things quickly cooled down, no pun intended, after Loki and Cap talked to me. I can't believe that they are over the age of 25! But, their personalities make up for that tiny problem. From what I have observed, Loki is secretive and very mischievous. Cap is honest, kind and, to put it straight, patriotic. One of these men has the qualities I am looking for, but, I really can't make any firm assumptions after only a week.

Today, though, I was having a "date" with Loki, consisting of chess, which was pretty boring. Tony and the rest of the gang left to go to a birthday party for two girls, named Delilah and Evergreen. Stark still thought I was too unpredictable to be around them and Loki...well, he's had a very bad experience with Evergreen.

"H-how do you even play chess! It's so 1980's and boring. Don't you do anything fun?" I exclaimed as Loki announced that he had won.

"Chess is a game of wits and thinking. Someone with your mindset will never understand that," he sneered.

"Excuse me? Did those words come out of your mouth? I'm sorry, your royal pain in my butt, but women have a higher intellect than you ever would imagine."

Loki raises his eyebrows and widened his eyes. He surely had never been sassed by a human before.

"And, for the record, I don't appreciate you walking in my dreams. They are private, if you've ever heard such a word."

"I will do as I please, Midgardian. Your dreams, particularly, are gateways into your past. I would very much like to know why you were captured by HYDRA and why you were assumed as a dangerous being."

His sudden rashness was surprising. Loki was only stopped by the banging of the front door.

"Tony! I want to see this woman. I can easily control my powers now and you have no reason to stop me!" a young female voice exclaimed.

"But, she is unpredictable! I don't want to see you girls get hurt."

"We aren't going to get hurt, Dad! Or should I say Tony?" scolded another.

Loki vanished right before my eyes, right as two young ladies entered the living room. One of them, obviously the elder of the two, had ever changing colored hair and brilliant chestnut eyes. She was wearing an Iron Man t-shirt (probably bought by her father) and black yoga pants. The younger, more childish girl had her brown hair in a messy bun and her eyes were a glowing green. She was wearing a Thor Hammer shirt and jean shorts. Both girls were wearing black flats.

"Amazing hair! Tony, can I dye my hair like that?" the younger one asked.

"Absolutely not, Delilah! You are beautiful the way you are. And why are you wearing really short jean shorts? Evergreen, I thought you said both of you were dressed appropriately!" Tony chided.

"Coming from the man who wearing foundation every time he goes out to see anyone?" Delilah crossed her arms.

"Delilah, we aren't making a good impression," Evergreen, I assume, walked over and held out her hand. "I'm Evergreen and this is my adoptive sister, Delilah. And I'm sure you've met our overprotective, technically not father, Anthony Stark."

"A pleasure, I'm sure. And yes, your father is quiet... hospitable. How old are you girls?"

"17 today. Though, we do mind of look younger then we're supposed to. So, what are you... Oops, hold on! I'm getting a call from Cap. I'll be right back." Evergreen walked out of the room, answering the phone.

Tony glared after her. I rolled my eyes and chuckled. This family was more interesting than I had first thought.

"Mmhmm, okay. Yeah, we're at the Stark Tower. Okay, we'll see you in 20!" Evergreen hung up and walked back to sit on a recliner.

"So, what did the Capsicle have to say?" Tony looked amused.

"He's coming over with the others is 20 minutes with the others. He's just got to stop and pick up the couple."

I lost interest after she said that the others were coming. I was just happy Cap was coming back. That is until they walked through the door, 20 minutes later. My eyes glanced up to see a man with a vibranium arm standing next to Cap and a woman, with a vibranium leg. My nose scrunched up as I leapt up from my seat and charged at Bucky Barns. I punched him square in the nose.

"That was left over from Egypt." I growled. Suddenly the woman with short brown hair jumped in front of him, a look of alarm on her face.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she exclaimed. "The heck is wrong with you?!"

"What the heck is wrong with me? This man and I fought because I had escaped from the grasps of HYDRA. He beat me to a pulp and then brought me back. He still has some dues left over." I didn't expect it when her fist connected with my jaw.

"He was brainwashed, you- you insane revenge crazed woman!" she said. Bucky placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

I rolled my jaw. "You have a strong punch for a second Bucky." Barnes' eyes widened as the girl launched herself at me. But last second, Bucky wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her away, whispering to her slightly.

"Jewel, you okay?" Steve asked, finally coming out of the kitchen.

"How dare you bring these-these-these...HYDRA experiments here! I thought I could trust you!" I shoved Cap out of my way as I stormed out into the living room. As I left I heard the woman yell.

"HYDRA experiments?! Look in a mirror!"

"Arabella, calm down!"

"You think I chose to be like this," I screeched. "My family was killed, my home destroyed and I can never be a human again! Listen, sweetheart, whatever you went through was a mere shred of what I went through."

"So, you had to go through experiments, where they tested brainwashing on you? You had to go through experiments to test the enhancement theory? You had your leg forcibly taken from your body, when it didn't need to be amputated in the first place? You had to stay awake through the pain of having your bones separated, and your tendons ripped, and your heart stalled to keep the blood in your body? Did you have to deal with having no memories for the longest time, then wake up to find you had killed people in their sleep?" She was right in front of me now. "And, don't call me sweetheart."

"Did you have to be separated from you family at age five and watch them to be killed in front of you? Did you go, day by day, watching scientists put technology into your brain, abdomen, arms and legs? Were you threatened with death when you tried to save humanity? Yes, I was nearly brainwashed, but I prevailed. Were you test subject for the mutant X-gene? You were most likely provided for anesthesia, while I wasn't. They claimed that if I was nulled, the gene would be imperfect. I regret every day I killed that man who knew everything about the X-gene, so everyone around the world would be safe." I was huffing, tears slipping from my eyes.

"Yes, I did watch. I was awake the whole time. Anesthesia doesn't work on me, never has, probably never will. I was threatened with death for simply avoiding the diodes they put on our heads. No, I wasn't separated from my family. Because I was the one who killed them." The woman named Arabella changed to a quiet tone, her eyes showing emotions long hidden behind the walls of her mind.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

"It's fine. My name is Arabella. Yours?" She held out her hand.

"Julia, Julia Carter." I shook her hand and smiled.

"W-what? How do women just make up like that?" Bucky demanded.

Both of us shrugged and smiled at the clueless man.

~~~~~

Oh... did I forget to mention I am working with @TheQuietDragon? Heheheeeeee... There is more to come my pretties! Follow my BFF @TheQuietDragon. She's awesome!!

Later haters!

Knockoutfangirl4life