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I've been through so much pain that it's hard to maintain a smile on my face
Cause it's madness on my brain

 I've been through so much pain that it's hard to maintain a smile on my faceCause it's madness on my brain

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{3}

Tony Stark had slept in that morning, being too drained from his 137th trial last night in bringing back Alice.

It was for that reason only that the temperature in the cryochamber hadn't been checked in the morning. If it had been, they would've seen the ice had thawed and was left in a puddle on the floor.

Alice awoke with a gasp as her eyes flung open. She wanted to bring her hands to her stomach, a fleeting memory of pain causing her to act on instincts. She painted heavily as she took in her surroundings and learning everything she could about the room she was being held in - other than the cryochamber she laid in.

"What the hell happened?" She grumbled to herself, her head fuzzy and spinning. While the temperature had increased enough to melt the majority of the ice, it was still ridiculously cold in there. Alice couldn't focus on anything except how cold she was and she knew if she didn't get out of the hellish ice-box she would soon catch hypothermia.

"Who's there? Anybody?!" She called, trying her best to attract any attention, pulling on the metal clamped around her wrist - not enough to cause damage but enough to keep her still.

The overhead light flickered on as the door swung open to reveal a man she'd never met before. Her eyes were drawn to the metal arm that hung by his side.

"James Buchanan Barnes." She mumbled in pure shock.

"It's Bucky." He stated, taking a step closer to the chamber but not daring to unlock it. Stark would have his other arm. "You know who I am?"

"All HYDRA operatives know you." was all she said, still unsure as to whether or not she could trust him. But she needed answers. "Where am I?"

"Avengers compound." He rushed before moving on. "You're HYDRA? Who are you? This room has never been unlocked before but I heard yelling." Bucky shoved his hand in his pocket awkwardly, suddenly feeling guilty about his level of freedom he had.

"Wait, Avengers? As in Tony Stark?" She began to pull on the restraints on her hands, desperate to get free now she had some sort of idea where she was. "Get me out of here, I'm freezing!" She yelled before continuing her struggle with the heavy metal restraints that also wrapped around her torso.

"What's going on?" She heard a voice call - one she recognised. He ran through the door and froze at the sight of the young girl awake and alert. "Don't just stand there, Barnes. Help me open the damn thing!"

Both men rushed to the side of the chamber and pulled open the locks before lifting up the lid. Bucky used the strength in his metal arm to rip off the metal and toss it to the floor.

Alice sprang up quickly only to be pulled into a tight hug by Tony Stark. She quickly grabbed his arm and twisted it, pinning it against his back in a position she could easily snap it in half.

Bucky went to jump in but stood down as he saw the expression on Tony's face, telling him it was alright.

"That ones on me. No hugging, HYDRA thing. Got it." He finally breathed again as Alice dropped his arm and he could cradle his elbow for a moment to relieve the pain.

"Barnes, this is Alice Steel. Another HYRDA survivor."

The silence was awkward and deafening. Part of Alice wanted to express the resentment she had to the Winter Soldier and the other part wanted to know what the hell was going on.

"What the hell is going on, Stark?" She mumbled, hoping Tony would give her information. She felt so confused and uneasy being in an unknown environment with no idea how she got there or how long she'd been there.

"Right, I guess I should tell you." He replied, nodding. "F.R.I.D.A.Y; call Peter. Tell him not to come down today - normal patrols as usual." He called to literally nobody - well, that's how it appeared to Alice.

Alice's confusion intensified as she head a voice that sounded as if it was everywhere yet nowhere at the same time. "Yes, Boss."

"Peter? Parker? Where is he?" Alice rushed, pushing herself off the table but stumbling as her legs had never felt weaker. She tripped but composed herself, bringing her hand to her head as a pain grew on her temple.

"Barnes, give us a minute?" Tony asked with half a grin. Bucky nodded ever so slightly and left the room without another word. "Can I get you a blanket or anything?" He gestured to the loose fitting shorts and tank top that adorned her small figure that did nothing to stop her shivering.

"No." She spoke bluntly. "Who changed me? I was wearing my suit. We were on Titan. I died." She breathed, trying her best not to agitate the stabbing pain she felt in her skull.

"Pepper. I think I told you about her? You know, when we were on the flying donut."

Tony began to recall the events. He told her about everything that happened after she died - how Thanos succeeded and took the life of half of the universe.

"Wait, Peter died? But you sent a message to him!" She cried in pure confusion that did nothing to soothe the headache.

"He did. But he came back, everyone did."

"Everyone but me."

The story went on and Alice learnt of the lengths the Avengers went to to undo the crime that had been done. It was almost too much for the young girl to hear, she wanted to tune it all out but knew she had to hear the rest.

"Me and Banner have been working non stop to bring you back. The reason you couldn't reappear like the others was because you didn't die because of the snap - your death was, for all intents purposes, your own fault."

Anger spread across her face like wildfire, showing nothing but rage. How dare he? She had risked everything to help stop the bad guys plans from happening and had literally died in the process - no way was it her own damn fault.

"Hm, bad word choice." He recalled as he caught a glimpse of the furious teenager.

"So, I've been dead for three whole years?" She asked hoping to clear up all the questions she had.

"Yes."

"And I'm nineteen now?"

"If What your HYDRA files say are correct then yes you are nineteen."

"And Peter is good?"

Tony took a moment, not knowing how to answer. He knew the pair had bonded on the mission. Peter explained it to him -he had never met anyone his age who some what understood him and the pressures of having to live with super powers and a hidden identity.

"Maybe you should wait for Peter. Breakfast?"

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Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it!

I found it quite hard to find a song to go with this chapter but I think it kinda works, right?

I just want to say, if you've come from Only You - thank you so much for almost 400 votes and almost 19k views! It's so crazy to me that so many people have read it

Alice is finally awake; but what will happen when she reunites with Peter? It happens in the next chapter -  promise!

Lots of love xx

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