Chosen

Chapter Five

Chapter Five: That's What's Wrong With Alex

"Was it love or fear of the cold that led us through the night? For every kiss your beauty trumped my doubt." -Mumford & Sons: Winter Winds.

-

 The day before Christmas is not anything like it would be at my grandparents' house. You would not have even known the next day was a holiday here. Typically at my grandparents' the day before Christmas is spent cooking and doing other festivities before going to our church's Christmas Eve service. Here at the tower we do none of that. Everyone has gone off doing their own thing. The only indication that Christmas is tomorrow is the Christmas tree in the living room and the few decorations on the fireplace mantel. Snow has still continued to fall and cover the city in a white crystal blanket. The forecast shows that the snow will continue falling until tomorrow afternoon. Since it doesn't snow in Oakley, California, this will be my first white Christmas!

 I am excited for tomorrow morning, not just because of it being a white Christmas. It has been years since I was last able to spend the holiday with my mom. Now I get to spend it with my dad, Natasha, Clint, Steve, Bruce, Bucky, and Alex. Alex chose to spend December 25th here in New York with us, declining the offer from Tony to fly back home and spend it with his family. Alex told me that he, Jane, and Carrie had a family celebration in Oakley the day before he moved here. My grandparents were also invited to fly out to Manhattan to be with us for Christmas; however, my grandma is not a flyer. She absolutely hates flying on any type of an aircraft. Obviously my grandpa isn't going to leave her alone, so they will not be joining us.

 Since everyone is spending their Christmas Eve independently, Alex and I have been in the laboratory all afternoon. As my own Christmas gift to myself, I get to finish Magnetar. All she needs now is a paint job and she is good to go. It has taken me longer to make this suit than it took me to make all of the others. I spent a good month experimenting with different metals trying to find the best combination that could still withstand pressure of outer space but still be lightweight and the most durable, but I'm in no rush to complete the suit.

 "Obviously you're not going with red..."

 "No, and not dark blue or black," I spin around on my stool, "I love Arche's deep blue, but it needs to be distinct and different."

 "And I don't think you're the type of girl who would want to paint it pink."

 "No, I think that takes away from the threatening look."

 "Hmm," Alex rests his head on his fist.

 "Why is picking colors so hard?" I groan.

 "I don't think it is; I think we're just making it hard," Alex mutters as his jaw can't move normally.

 The two of us are silent as we imagine what color scheme would be suitable for Magnetar. Music plays somewhat quietly in background. Lucis is kind enough to play my music in the lab as we work.

 "Ooh, what if I went purple and grey?" I stop spinning.

 "I think that'd look nice in space," Alex replies cheerfully.

 "Wouldn't you like to know?" I shoot back sarcastically, "Lucis, get your smock on. You have some painting to do."

 "Is platinum and eminence correct?" Lucis asks when I select the colors on my computer.

 "Sounds beautiful," I reply. I decide to play around with the colors. I add a splash of gold, just on the little pieces of the suit. I surprise myself by loving the hints of gold, "And Lucis, if you wouldn't mind adding the gold..."