Nephilim

29

Kirstin's P.O.V.- Present Day

I lean in Happy's window after everybody climbs out of the limo into the garage of Avengers tower, "Thanks Happy. It's nice to see you again. I hope you and Pepper are still good."

"We're going strong, thanks, Kirstin. Tell Tony she says hello. She would come over, but she wants to give everyone time to adjust to being back before she shows up." I laugh, kissing Happy's cheek. I turn around afterword, linking arms with Mason as we walk. Alec shoots me a dirty look. I look at Mason, then Ryder, then back to Alec. Oh... He thinks I... Oh.

He thinks we're dating, huh? I jump, forgetting he could talk in my mind. I hear his internal laughter ring through my mind. Don't worry, I forget too. Then I feel you're buried angst shoving into my happy personality and I remember I can feel everything you do. Why shove it so far down? Tell somebody, you'll feel better. Shut up, nobody asked you. Wait... if you can feel my emotions, then you can tell the difference between- Your feelings for me and your feelings for Ryder? Yeah, I can. Your head over heels for him. At least, that's what it feels like to me. It's how I feel when I think about Jack. Try comparing them for yourself. I let myself connect to his emotions, going through the memories of Jack he has in my head. They definitely feel the same. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. I give you full permission to tell this dude I'm gay if it means he'll quit glaring at me like I'm trying to steal Ryder's girlfriend. Thank god, I'm really getting uncomfortable.

I pull Mason over to Alec, slowing him down before talking to him, "You look pissed."

"I'm not." He sounds pissed. His aura is beautiful, take a peek. I close my eyes, letting them flutter open to look from Mason's view. It was colorful, bright. Oh my god. It's gorgeous. I know. I push my mind out of his, coming back into my own eyes.

"Okay. Yeah, but just so you know, everything I said was true. I would never purposefully lead Ryder on. And I'm not a brute. Or more like I'm not just a brute. Anyway, shit is going to get weird when we get inside but just go with it. Like, I honestly have no idea what we're going to walk in on. Just a fair warning." He nods, looking at Ryder then me.

Awkward. Shut up, Asshole. I'm not talking, I'm thinking. No wonder it smells like fire in here. Shut up. I'm not talking, I'm thinking. Piss off ya wanker. I laugh, looking at Mason and shaking my head. We all step into the elevator. Alec moves like he's going to press a button, quickly realizing there aren't any, "How do you know where you're going if there aren't any buttons. How do you even go?"

"Hey F.R.I.?" I call out, glancing upward Yes, Burger? Fuck off.

"Yes, Ms. Black?" FRIDAY'S voice rings out around us.

"Where's Bruce?" I smile over at Alec, making sure the file is still tucked away in the bag I had brought with us.

"I believe he is with Mr. Stark in his lab. Is that where you wish to go?"

"Yes, please. Thanks, FRIDAY."

"My pleasure, Ms. Black. Mr. Stark will be ecstatic to know you are back." The doors slide shut as we begin to ascend.

"Hey, FRIDAY? Do you think I could get Tony to change your name to something more normal? Maybe Anna or something? How about Gideon, like from that TV show? Legends of Tomorrow?" I joke as I rock on my heels in the nearly silent elevator. Ryder snorts softly.