winter's child

Machines

There is a way. I can be fixed. Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner worked tirelessly and it paid off. It's still risky, but what isn't?

They tell me everything about the process. It will be long and painful. They ask if that changes my mind. I say nothing could. I have to be awake the whole time so that they can tell if an important control is cut. Speaking of which, comes another problem. HYDRA intentionally connected my vitals to this system to make it even harder to remove.

Daddy's still terribly nervous. And he doesn't hide it well. Whenever Mommy or I mention it, he laughs shakily and says, "Years under a mask didn't really help..."

Today he looks even more worried. Because today is the first surgery. Mr. Stark thought it best we divide it into separate parts, so that if something goes wrong, we can salvage the rest of my body.

Mommy flinches at the word salvage.

We're starting with my legs, because there is nothing really involving my power down there, mostly just a robot.

I lie on a cold silver table and try not to panic. Memories come back to me in flashes, but Mommy helps soothe my nerves by whispering softly and brushing my hair with a delicate hand. Daddy is still too shaky to watch.

"Okay, Tanya," Mr. Stark says, turning to me, "Are you ready?"

I nod precariously.

"I'm going to tell you what we're doing the whole time. You may not understand a word I say, but I've found it helps to have someone to distract you."

Again, I nod and see Mommy give him a grateful smile.

He sighs, "Dr. Banner is now going to put a local anesthetic in your legs. This is so it won't hurt nearly as bad, but you are still awake."

I feel a couple pricks along my legs and twitch a bit in surprise.

Mr. Stark looks at me, "Now Tanya, we are going to make the incisions. Dr. Banner is going to do this because he is the actual doctor and I'm only and engineer-"

He keeps talking as I feel something almost slimy move along my legs. I look, even though I know I shouldn't, and pale. Underneath the white flesh and red muscle, there is silver and tiny strips of glowing blue attached to my bones. I gasp for air and crash back against the table.

Mommy kisses my forehead as I whimper, "I am a monster; I am."

She soothes, "No you're not."

I know they've told me this so many times, but it still helps to hear it. To hear that there are at least some people in this world who believe I can be good.

Me. Stark keeps me partially distracted as I watch him and Dr. Banner pull flimsy metal and hyper thin wires out of me.

After what feels like hours (and really is hours if the clock in here is right) I'm stitched up and ready to go. My legs are still wobbly from the medicine, so Mommy carries me out and hands me to Daddy. He wraps my tightly to him and whispers, "Thank god. Oh thank god."

He kisses my face and doesn't stop until I push him away with giggles. "I'll take those," Mommy grins.

Daddy smiles back and kisses her carefully but deeply. They kiss for too long, so I cough.

They look down at me with flushed faces and Daddy lifts me on to his shoulders as I laugh. He tilts his head against my small body, "I love you Tanya."

I lean my head on to his, "I love you too."

++++++++++

Next is my arms, a dangerous process. They get everything out of my left side without a hitch. But the right side presents more of a problem.

Dr. Banner's face tenses and he becomes even more cautious. Mr. Stark whispers something to him and he nods grimly. I can tell something is wrong.

"Whas goin on?" I ask, dizzy from anesthetic.

Mr. Stark gives me a tight smile, "Nothing right now."

I know he's lying.

Suddenly, I feel my entire body tense and freeze.

I try to scream, my voice is silent.

I try to move, I'm pinned down.

I try to wake up from what feels like an awful nightmare, and everything explodes with my crackling energy around me.

A/N

Thank you to all you wonderful readers out there: I'm so glad you enjoy reading as much as I do writing! I've got a little question for you, and it would be wonderful if you could answer it in the comments. From this point on, I was considering continuing the story along the infinity war/endgame timeline, including the appropriate deaths and revivals. It would take the story along a darker, more depressing path, but would keep it closer to the MCU. Otherwise, I would use the infinity war dusting, but other than that everyone would live through endgame and have a happy ending (not necessarily the end of the book). Morgan Stark and the dusted characters would remain the same, but it would take a much different route than the movies. Let me know what you like better and if you need any clarification! <3