Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Two

     "What did you do, Banner?" A velvet voice broke into my head almost as if it were coming through water. 

     "I didn't do anything! She passed out while I was working on her shoulder!" Dr. Banner contested, his voice clearer than the first one. 

     "Well when will she wake up?" a third asked. 

     "You've seemed to have forgotten, I'm not actually a medical doctor," Banner said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. 

     "Maybe we can wake her up, shake her or something," the first man spoke again. 

     "I wouldn't do that if I were you Tony," the third man warned. 

     "Why not, old man?" 

     "She elbowed me in the face when I was trying to save her. What's she gonna do to you when you're messing with her for no good reason?" the third man leveled. 

     "Ah, well see, that's because you don't know how to deal with women old man," the first snarked back. I tried moving but it felt like every vein in my body was pumped full of cement. 

     "Leave her along Stark!" a woman barked from further away. I pried open my eyes with as much force as I could muster. I expected to be blinded by light but there was something blocking the light in front of my eyes. 

     "Ah, morning sweethea- Ah!" My eyes had cleared and I could clearly make out the figure above me was a person, with their face close to mine. I let out a surprised gasp and swung my fist around, connecting my fist with his jaw as hard as I could. He staggered back, nursing his jaw where a bruise was already blossoming up from under his fingers. He looked back at me with shock clear on his face. 

     "I tired to warn you Stark," the blond smirk, biting back a laugh. Stark shot him a murderous look, still holding his jaw. I sat up and looked around. Standing around me at different intervals was Dr. Banner, the blond I'd elbowed, the red-haired woman from before, and the man I'd just punched in the face. 

     "Who the hell are you people! Why'd you kidnap me! Why'd you blow up my research!" I yelled getting louder with each question while I pushed myself to a sitting position, whipping around to face the blond man. The blond man raised his hands to try and calm me. 

     "Ma'am, calm down. We didn't kidnap you. Those people would have killed you," he started. 

     "And how do I know you won't!" I countered. 

     "We saved you?" he said confused. I crossed my arms over my chest sending a searing pain up my shoulder. He raised his arms again. 

     "Look, we're not gonna hurt you. We're the Avengers," he said like that name was supposed to mean something to me. 

     "Okay and?" I said. 

     "Wait, what?" the blond stuttered.  

     "Ugh, this is painful," the red-haired woman appeared next to the blond one, "Look Dr. Scaffer. You're work in Africa has been well documented. And that made you a target by treasure hunters chasing a powerful legend. We saved you from certain death and blew up your work so they couldn't continue it. We're not kidnapping you, we need your help so we're enlisting you," she turned to the blond, "Not everyone knows the Avengers," she turned back to me with an expectant smile.

     "I'm Natasha Romanoff, the soldier you elbowed is Captain America, otherwise known as Steve Rogers. You know this one, Dr. Bruce Banner. The one flying us is Clint Barton. Oh and the pout over there you slugged is billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark," she explained, rolling her eyes at the last bit. I eyed Tony skeptically.