W I S T E R I A

Was it too late to skip breakfast?

Elena gulped as she followed Steve out of the elevator. Three different pairs of eyes stared back at her, and she suddenly wondered if she looked presentable. She reached up to adjust her glasses only to realize she had lost them. Shaking her head, she slowed to let Steve greet his friends.

She rubbed her wrist, keeping her eyes on the ground at the tile floor. She bit her lip at her reflection, unused to seeing herself. Elena inclined her head, studying her eyes. She looked different than the last she saw herself. More weary, older. She looked miserable.

"—Dumpling."

She looked up at her name, crossing her hands behind her back. Elena blinked, cursing when she realized she had already begun responding to "Dumpling". "What?"

"Weren't you listening?" Tony asked, rolling his eyes. "I asked if you'd like a bagel."

"Uh, sure," Elena said.

"Get it yourself, it's on the counter."

Huffing, she sighed and walked towards them. Her eyes flitted to the two strangers, one of which she recognized. Her mouth parted in surprise, and Elena turned to grab a bagel before anyone could notice.

"Elena, this is Natasha Romanoff," Steve said when Elena took a seat. "And this is—"

"Dr. Bruce Banner, I know," Elena said, covering her mouth with her hand as she chewed. She turned to face Bruce. She forced a smile. "Your work on biochemistry was very helpful. It changed the way I thought about cells function."

Bruce smiled. "Your own theories are quite interesting," he said, folding his hands together. "I've done some of my own readings."

Elena halfheartedly nodded, falling into silence. She ate quickly, eager to be home. Standing when she finished, she glanced at a nearby clock.

Tony glanced at her from where he lounged, sitting up. He leaned forward, folding his hands together. "Tired of our company, already?"

"No, she's just tired of yours."

Tony glared at Natasha, who didn't pay him a second glance. She turned to face Elena, putting aside a tablet. "Doctor, I have some questions before you leave."

"Is this good or bad?" Elena asked.

Natasha motioned at the chair across from her. "I'm not sure yet."

Looking around at the others who seemed fully invested in this new conversation, Elena sighed and nodded. She sat and waited.

"According to the media, you have claimed that you have the ability to see cells. Is this true?"

Elena stayed silent, narrowing her eyes. She sat up straighter.

"Elena?"

She clenched her fists from under the table. "Why does this concern you?"

"Huh," Tony muttered to himself. "Dumpling has some fire in her, after all."

They ignored him, and Elena crossed her arms. She blew a strand of hair away from her face. "I was told I could go home," she said, glaring daggers at Steve. "I already made it clear I want nothing to do with this."

"Why? Are you hiding something?"

"Classified," Elena said. "I tried years ago to get the attention of others. I have learned that this is for me to face alone."

"We can help you," Bruce said, joining the conversation. He fiddled with his fingers when all eyes turned to him. "It was an experiment, right? It's similar to my uh... accident."

Elena looked away, running a hand through her hair. She bit on her lower lip, drawing blood.

"Come on," Steve said. "Talk to us."

"The syringe," Elena said, sighing after a moment. "The one that was administered into my bloodstream yesterday before I got here."

"What about it?" Steve asked.

"For lack of a better word, there was a serum. It..." She trailed off.

"What did it do, Elena?" Natasha asked.

Elena met Natasha's green eyes. They penetrated her skin, watching her soul for even the slightest of lies. Elena breathed in. "Since that serum entered my body, I have been able to see like a normal human being."

Studying the mixed reactions she received, Elena stood. "That means I do not need your help. I am cured. Good day."

She walked away, ignoring their stares. Stopping in front of the elevator, she pressed the call button. Elena rubbed her wrist, gulping.

"Do you know what was in the serum?"

She looked over her shoulder to face Bruce. "I don't need to," she said. A lie. "It worked."

Before anyone could answer, a loud buzzing vibrated. Natasha jumped up, grabbing her tablet. "I've got a location," she said.

"Hydra?" Tony stood.

Elena stepped into the elevator.

"200 West 67th Street."

Elena's blood chilled and she turned to see the doors slide shut. Her mouth opened when Natasha said the apartment number, her voice traveling through the doors.

"Apartment 21B."

Elena blinked. She hovered her hand over the ground floor button. 200 West 67th Street Apartment 21B. "You're kidding me," she murmured to herself. Cursing under her breath, her curiosity got the better of her. Elena winced. Curiosity wasn't the right word, maybe anxiety or concern. She pressed the button for the elevators to open.

"Apartment 21B on 200 West 67th Street?"

All heads turned to her, and Elena sighed. That had happened too many times that day. She straightened. "That apartment," she said. "What's wrong with it?"

Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Classified."

"Not classified." Elena placed her hands on her hips. "Just tell me; I already told you about the serum."

"Why is this so important to you?" Natasha stepped forward.

Lifting her chin, Elena clasped her hands together. "Because that's my apartment."

Whatever Natasha was expecting, it wasn't that. Her jaw dropped, but she regained her composure in less than a second. Tony coughed as Steve stood. They shared a glance.

"Jarvis, find an available room," Tony said. "We have a guest."

Elena jumped at the voice that responded.

"Yes, sir."

She blinked, eyes darting around the room. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet there was no one. "What in the world?"

Tony grinned. "Dumpling, Jarvis. Jarvis, Dumpling. He's an AI."

"Right," Elena muttered. "Why am I getting a room?"

"Someone is tracking you," Natasha said. "Someone bad."

Steve stood slowly. "Possibly the same person that put that serum in you. You're not safe out there."

Elena gulped. Suddenly, she regretted all the decisions she had made the past twenty-four hours. Her mind screamed in protest at Tony's next words.

"Welcome to Avengers Tower, Dumpling." 

... 

Yup, I jinxed myself. But hey, it hasn't been months. Only a week. And I do have the next chapter written for tomorrow. 

Surprisingly, I haven't forced myself to outline this story yet. Usually I outline before or outline after the first two chapters, but that hasn't happened yet here. I have no idea what that's going to do for this story, and I almost always have an ending in mind before I even start writing, but again, that hasn't happened. 

See y'all tomorrow!