Troublesome [The Avengers]

15|| Decisions, Decisions

It was around two in the morning when Arden arrived back at the tower. A part of her didn't want to come back but she didn't have a choice. Buddy was still in her room and she couldn't leave him behind.

Arden really just wanted this whole thing to be over. She hated it here. She missed being out on the street, she missed her apartment, and she missed all the sketchy contacts she had.

The elevator dinged and the silver doors opened up to the shared living room. Arden frowned and glanced at the number pad on the elevator, she swore she had hit her floor number.

"Have fun?" Tony's all too sarcastic voice told Arden that this wasn't a mistake. He had used the elevator to bring her right to him. She clenched her jaw and walked out into the well decorated room. Tony stood behind the bar at the back of the room and poured himself a glass of an amber liquor.

Arden crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at the man. She wasn't in the mood to deal with him or his arrogant attitude. She was really growing tired of him and his need to straighten out her life. 

"What do you want Stark?" She growled.

"Looks like you're already on the defensive." Stark said almost tauntingly. 

He sighed before taking a sip of his drink. "Look Arden, i'm not trying to control you but you can't just wander off in the middle of the night."

"Why not? Whose's going to try and stop me, you?" Arden asked with a raised brow.

"No." Tony paused for a moment and let out a disappointed sigh. "Why do you even want to be Trouble? You have the opportunity to drop the act-"

"You superheros are all the same! Annoying, self absorbed, self righteous dicks; and I don't wanna be apart of it." Arden snapped. "I'm here out of courtesy and you have no fucking say over anything I do!"

Something flashed across Tony's face before the corners of his lips pulled down into a frown. He didn't look offended or upset but almost sympathetic. "I know what happened to your parents Arden, but you can't blame every superhero for ones mistake."

Arden's brown eyes rounded before she clenched her fists and bit back a slew of swears. "What did you read that in my file too?" She scoffed. "You have no idea what happened."

"Your parents were driving past the Baxter building at the same time that the Fantastic Four were running an experiment. Something went wron-"

"Stop. Just shut up!" Arden snapped. Her brown eyes had become glossy with tears and her face was hot with anger. Blue wisps began to surround her, erratically darting around her body.

Arden grabbed the crumpled up piece of paper Selene had given her and tossed it at Tony. "There's were you'll find Todd. Once this is over don't ever contact me again." She hissed before she turned on her heels and left the room.

Arden got to her bedroom and grabbed one of her duffel bags from under her bed. Buddy laid on top of the soft grey comforter, watching his owner shove clothes into the black bag. He let out a small mew, catching Arden's attention.

She looked over at Buddy. He looked so comfortable, curled up on the blanket with his big green eyes half closed. She wiped the unshed tears from her eyes and sat down beside the small cat.

She scooped Buddy up into her arms and he began to purr, burying his head in the bend of her elbow. She gently ran her fingers down his silky fur, and for a moment she was calm. 

"We shouldn't be here Buddy. I'm not a good guy, I can't be a hero." Arden muttered to the small cat. Tears welled up in her dark eyes as her mind drifted to her parents. 

They would want something better for her, she knew that; but she didn't know how to be a someone better. She could never be the kind of person who saves the world. She barely cared for the people who lived on it. Tony and everyone else was wrong to think she could be anything but what she is.

Arden placed Buddy back down on the bed and wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. She took a deep breath before she finished shoving everything important into her duffel bag. She coaxed Buddy into his cat carrier before she stood up and look at the bedroom around.

She couldn't stay here, even if she wanted to.

She used her powers to silently close the bedroom door behind her and walked towards the elevators shinning silver doors. She clicked the call button for the elevator, preying the doors would open quickly. She really didn't want to run in to anyone, she just wanted to leave in peace. 

There was a small click of a door being opened and Arden silently cursed her terrible luck. Of course she couldn't get away unnoticed.

"You're leaving?" The voice was raspy and male. Arden glanced over her shoulder to see Bucky. His dark brown hair was tousled and his clothes were wrinkled from a restless sleep.

"Yeah I am, so don't try to stop me." She said before turning her attention back to the elevator doors.

"I won't." Bucky said. Arden listened to him walk over to the couch before the tv turned on. Arden bit down on her bottom lip and glanced over her shoulder at the man.

"Why not?" She asked despite the way her brain screamed at her to shut up.

Bucky's tired eyes were emotionless as they met Arden's. "If you really want to leave then there's no stopping you." He stated and turned his attention back to the tv.

Arden fell silent as Bucky's words set doubt into her head. As much as Arden hated to admit it she did like some of the people here. And she knew that if she left that Steve or Tony would come and find her again anyways. 

She ran a hand through bright blue her hair and sighed. She wanted to go. She hated it here and she hated superheros. She was at least sure about the last one, she had to be.

The elevator dinged and the silver doors slid open. Her heart jumped at the sight of the empty elevator. She, for once in her life, was stuck on the edge of a decision instead of diving head first into something.

Arden gulped back her pride and turned around. Bucky furrowed his brow and watched as Arden walked over to the couch. She placed her things down beside it and sank into the soft suede cushions.

"I don't know what to do." Arden said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You have time to think." He said quietly.