Troublesome [The Avengers]

25|| Better or worst

A high-pitched, pulse-like beeping broke through the empty blackness of Arden's mind. A smell like lemons and bleach tickled her nose, and she could feel a soft warm blanket draped over her body.

Arden's eyes felt heavy, like lead was dragging them closed. Her throat burned and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

She forced her sore eyes open and flinched at the blinding light that attacked her retinas. She blinked away the white spots until her eyes had adjusted.

She was in a white room, a hospital room. A large machine beeped beside her bed, and a colorful bouquet of carnations was placed on a small table across from her. The room was filled with the glow of sunlight rather then the florescent lights on the ceiling. 

Arden could feel her stomach pulsating with every beat of her heart. She was sure she would be in agonizing pain if it weren't for whatever painkiller the hospital had her on.

She blinked away her grogginess and glanced down at the I.V. in her arm. The skin around the needle had bruised and she desperately wanted to scratch at it. She reached for the clear tube, intending to pull it from her arm to relieve the feeling of something being beneath her skin.

"I wouldn't take that out, Kid." An all to familiar voice rang through Arden's ears. She dropped her hand to her side and rolled her eyes.

"This, must be hell?" Arden's voice was hoarse and scratchy from the lack of use. She turned her head to the left to see a fitted black suit blocking the view of the window.

Tony flashed her a kind almost fatherly smirk. "Mine or yours?" He quipped back. Arden's face betrayed her mind and a smile tugged at her lips.

"Mind getting me some water?"

Tony nodded and walked over to a pitcher of water that sat on the same table as the flowers. "How are you feeling?" he asked and brought a glass to her.

Weakly Arden propped herself up on her elbows and took the glass from Tony. He watched her with unreadable brown eyes as she gulped down the cool water. She swore he almost looked concerned for her. 

"Better." Arden handed him back the glass before she laid back down. Her body felt stiff and her joints popped with the movements.

"You really had Cap going, you know? He thought you had died out on that field." Tony said somberly. He turned away from Arden as he placed the plastic cup down on the small table. His shoulders were slumped like a heavy weight was resting on them.

"God kid. Why couldn't you have just stopped?" He spoke softly. "You could have died, you almost did." 

A heaviness sank down in Arden's heart. She had almost died the other night. She could still feel that fear in the back of her mind. 

She still had so much she wanted out of life, she wanted something better then this. She just wished it hadn't taken a near-death experience to show her that. 

She gulped back her rising tears and looked over at Tony. "I had it, Tin-head." The corners of her lips twitched up into a bright, sarcastic smirk.

Tony glanced over his shoulder at her and scoffed. "Sorry but Cap's already coined that nickname."

Arden's smile faded and her brows furrowed. "Where is he?"

Tony turned around to face her and leaned against the table. "He went back to the tower to shower and get some rest. I told him i'd watch over you." 

She nodded slowly as she pushed herself up onto her elbows. "How long have I been out?" She asked. 

"The doctors put you into a medically induced coma so you could heal. You've been asleep for three months." Tony said with a sympathetic look in his eyes.

"What!" Arden jolted upright. She felt the stitched in her stomach tug at her skin and her hand instantly flew to the bandages. 

"Easy, Kid!" Tony laughed. "I'm joking. It's been three days. Steve had Buddy brought back to the tower, so don't worry about him." 

Arden sighed and her shoulders slumped with relief. She gingerly ran a hand through her tangled hair and frowned. The once soft neon blue hair was beginning to fade to a grey-ish blue.

"I need to dye my hair." She grumbled. Tony chuckled and Arden looked up at him with a raised brow. "What?"

"You almost died and you're more concerned about your hair then yourself." He said with a genuine grin. 

"I've got my priorities in order, what can I say." She shrugged. "So how long am I supposed to stay in this hospital?" Arden slumped back down against the hospital bed, sinking down into the warm memory foam.

Tony glanced at the door to the room and sighed. "I'll go get a nurse, just stay here."

"Where would I go?" Arden scoffed. Tony muttered something sarcastic under his breath before he turned towards the rooms door. 

Arden watched as he paused just in front of it, his hand hovering above the door handle. He muttered something to himself before he turned around to face her once again. 

"I want you to join the Avengers." He said seriously. Arden's brow furrowed and her eyes darted between Tony's. He was being dead serious.

"I know you've already turned down Cap and I know you have a prejudice against superheros, but I know you can do a lot of good with your powers."

Her eyes fell to the heavy white blanket that covered her legs and she clenched her jaw. "Don't you hate me?" She asked bitterly and met his gaze.

Tony's expression dropped and he sighed heavily. "I don't hate you. I think you're reckless, and impatient, and impulsive, and angry; but I see a potential in you."

Arden bit down on her bottom lip and huffed through her nose. 

She wasn't a superhero. She wasn't the kind of person who would runs into burning buildings to save someone. She was selfish, and impulsive, and to cocky for her own good. She was more trouble then she'd ever be worth. 

But Tony knew that and still he stood there and offered her a chance at a better life. A chance to be someone better then herself.

"Ok." Arden gulped down the lump in her throat. "But under two conditions." She looked up at him.

Tony rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless. "What are they?"

"One, you don't try to stop me from being Trouble." She said before her that cocky smirk pulled at her lips and that twinkle filled her brown eyes. "And i'm not wearing a spandex body suit." 

Tony grinned happily and a chuckle left his lips. "We have a deal. Welcome to the team, Kid."