Lost

Chapter 6

"Well, your cells are all stable, so that's a good thing. Everything is perfectly normal as far as I can tell," Bruce says as he straightens up from where he was bent over the microscope. "So basically, what you're saying is that I'm a cyberkenetic mixed with a bit of supersoldier? Did I summarize correctly?" I ask as I stand up from the exam table. "That would be correct, yes," Bruce nods.

A series of loud bangs, followed by several highly colorful expletives sounds from Tony's lab down the hall. After sharing a look with Bruce, I take off towards the sounds. Tony's lab is a minefield labyrinth of half-finished projects. I gravitate towards the back where the banging sounds are loudest. "Um, Tony? What's going on?" I ask hesitantly as the genius comes into view. Tony is huddled over his workbench, tools, and parts scattered around haphazardly; there are grease stains covering his face and hands as he mumbles to himself.

When he sees me he straightens up and grins. "Oh nothing important, just tweaking my thrusters a bit, nothing to worry about," he tries to play it off. I approach one of the holograms displaying the schematics and examine it before turning to him, "Would you mind if I take a look? I'm pretty good with technology." He waves his hand in a 'go ahead' motion. I look at all the parts before me and wave my hand over it. A second later all the parts move together of their own accord until they form a perfect replica of the schematic. "How did you do that?" Tony sounds astonished. "I'm a cyberkenetic, we found out today," I give him a small grin.

Tony opens his mouth to answer when Friday's voice rings out, "Miss y/l/n, there is a package for you at the reception desk." "A package? I didn't order anything. Thank you Friday, I'll be right there." Shaking my head in confusion, I head down to the doors with Tony hot on my heels. When I approach the receptionist, a friendly blonde named Camilla, she smiles and hands me a large black box with an envelope taped to it and no return address.

Taking it into the dining room, I open the envelope first. Inside is a folded up letter in vaguely familiar, loopy handwriting. It says:

Welcome back, darling.

I can't wait to see your gorgeous face again.

Love,

G xxxx

P.S You look breathtaking today

"That's not creepy at all," I think to myself as I lift the lid from the box before a horrified scream tears past my lips. Inside is a dozen dead roses with maggots crawling over them. If it wasn't already sitting on the table, I would have dropped it. "What the hell?" Tony breathes as he looks into the box.

The sounds of several pairs of feet running echoes through the room as Bucky, Wanda, Nat, Sam, Steve, and Clint come bursting through the door, all holding some weapon or other. "What's going on? Who screamed?" Steve asks as they all lower their assortment of knives, guns, and bows. That's when they see the box and walk closer. "Man, that's just nasty!" Sam says with a disgusted face. "Imagine if you were the one that opened the box," I quip in a shaky voice, unable to tear my eyes away and unaware of the tears making their way down my cheeks.

"Do we have any idea who sent it? How did it get past security?" Steve is using his captain voice, him and Tony going back and forth with the others throwing in the occasional comment as I zone out. Someone closes the lid of the box again and I feel a pair of arms wrap around me. "Come on, let's get you out of here sweetheart," Bucky whispers in my ear as he and Wanda lead me out of the room. They take me to the pool deck where Wanda helps me to sit down. I only notice how much I'm shaking as I reach for the soda Bucky had put in front of me before seating himself in the chair next to mine and rubbing soothing circles into my back.

Once I had calmed down and stopped shaking, Bucky speaks quietly. "Doll, do you know who sent the package?" I shake my head until a thought occurs to me and I turn to Wanda, grabbing her hands in a tight grip. "The guy from the restaurant, the one that said something about his boss being glad I'm back, maybe he called him and told him. It's the only explanation," I say rapidly, willing her to remember. "Of course, maybe he's the one behind all of this, maybe he has the answers we need, now we just have to find him," she nods.

"Can someone please tell me what the hell you two are talking about?" Bucky asks confused. Quickly as we can, we fill him in on what happened at the restaurant, his face growing stonier by the second. "That was incredibly reckless, what if you had gotten shot?" He asks, shuddering at the thought as he pulls me over into his lap. "But I didn't Buck, besides, I couldn't just stand aside and do nothing." I run my fingers through his hair to try and soothe him.

"Please just promise me that you'll try to be careful in future, I'd never be able to live with myself if you got hurt," he whispers, leaning into my touch. "I promise," I nod. "Alright, well if you're going to be putting your life in danger, I want you to know how to fight, so I'm going to teach you," he sighs resignedly.