𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝙰𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗

Chapter 37: Small Talk

(Angela's P.O.V.)

My hair was piled on top of my head with a scrunchie, eyes dark from sleepless nights and many cups of coffee. I gazed at myself in the bathroom mirror, makeup wipes in hand as I prepared to glide it over my face. Lately, I've found that it's not easy falling asleep, even with James laying next to me. Working out drained me easily and sometimes it was hard staying awake during patrol. A lot of my time was being spent in the lab with Tony. My inner nerd came out when I was in there. Besides Bruce, I was one of the only people that understand what they were talking about ninety percent of the time. We worked on more upgrades for the Iron Man suit, even going as far as me allowing Tony to study my abilities. Not the way HYDRA would, though. He was more than safe about it, caring. A few times he'd stuck adhesive pads with strings attached to my forehead and temples.

"Sit still," Tony encouraged.

"I've been sitting as stiff as a board for an hour, Stark, and you have the audacity to tell me to sit still?!"

"Yes," he stated simply. I watched as the television screens in front of me programmed the interactions of my brain, each ion and molecule connecting with each other. "Okay, now do that glowy-thing with your hand." Lifting my palm, I formed a small ball of red energy. As I did so, the ion channels sparked and stuck to each other like magnets. This was what my life's work had been; this is what created the person I am.

I grunted painfully as a sudden headache pierced my head, almost like a tidal wave crashing over a calm shore. It took me by surprise, the same as it did every time before this. They've been coming and going randomly and I've been taking an insane amount of painkillers to try to ease the throbbing. But nothing seemed to work. You would think a super soldier like myself wouldn't have to worry about things like this. One thing I didn't understand is why it was happening; it's never happened before unless I was crying for a long period of time.

To try to relieve some of the pain, I wipe off my face and release my hair from its tight bun, then gently massage my scalp with the tips of my fingers. It subsides slightly but doesn't recede. A second later I hear a knock at the door. When I open it, I see Wanda, Claire, and Nat, all with smiles on their faces. Or rather, Nat is smirking. The moment I see Claire open her mouth with an enthusiastic expression, I raise my hand and form red barriers over all three of their mouths.

"Before anyone says anything," I nearly growl. "I have a fucking horrible headache, so absolutely no high pitched screeching." My eyes are glued specifically to Claire as I speak. "Got it?" They all nod their heads and I swipe my hand to the side, the magic dissipating. Claire still holds a greatly over-exaggerated expression as she shakes her jazz hands in the air.

"Surpriiiiise." She yell-whispers. My face holds little to no amusement, eyes barely open and stature slumped. Why was I so tired?

"We want to have a girls night," Wanda explained. "We'd love if you were able to join us." I roll my shoulders and lean my head from side to side.

"I don't know guys, I'm really not in the mood." Nat crosses her arms and smirks.

"We're going Christmas shopping for our boysss," she sings. It's been getting closer and closer to the holidays and I loved it. Christmas was my favorite holiday. A few days ago James walked into our bedroom with red streamers, a Christmas tree and dozens of other decorations littering the walls. His face was priceless as I levitated in the air to place ornaments on the tree. With a raised eyebrow I look each of the girls over, all of them now holding a mischievous glint in their eye.

"Is this the 'shopping' trip that I think it is?"

"You better fucking believe it," Wanda answered. My lips curved up knowingly as I opened the door wider for them to let the girl through. Lingerie shopping. "Come in, I'll get changed."

Song that inspired this chapter:

100 Bad Days - AJR