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20. The Long Shot

Being on the bad side of the odds was the worst thing imaginable. The people who knew about my deteriorating condition either looked at me as though they were prepared to go down with me when I combusted, or they kept their distance and looked at me as though I was fragile glass.

Okay, so maybe there was one person who was the exception to both looks. Yes, you guessed it—Steve Rogers was the only one who didn't treat me like I was fragile or like he was ready to die should he be near me at the wrong time. If he felt that way—because he had to feel some way about this—he didn't let on. The man had a good way of hiding his emotions when he really didn't want anyone to see. I could learn a thing or two from him.

While Steve's niche was probably putting on a good face, my niche was currently lying to my friends to investigate a possible cure.

There was, surprisingly, a perk to being looked at through other's eyes. I got less attention, which allowed me to avoid most interaction, especially today. After some back and forth messaging with Seth, he agreed to show me his place, the facility he was working in that held the cure to my condition. For his sake and mine, he'd better not be bluffing.

I ran my tongue over my teeth as I waited. I waited for the call, a text, something that would tell me where Seth was. He'd said he had a car coming for me. Whether or not he would be inside it, he didn't tell me.

This could work. This could all end. I looked down at my naked wrist. Since I wanted no one to follow me, I had to keep Tony's bracelet off. Odin forbid I got an episode while I was with Seth and the bracelet let Tony and the others know where I was.

I stood out like a sore on the sidewalk, having business people move around me in haste, some on their cell phones. I rolled my eyes. They could at least have the decency to multitask and watch where they were going. If they weren't careful, they'd get hit by a cab or a car. I'd seen almost-accidents a few times. People could be so stupid and oblivious.

My head turned at the sight of a slowing, sleek black car. By the time the car stopped, I got a message on my phone.

You ready?

Raising my chin, I opened the door, and I was greeted by Seth sitting on the opposite end of the car. I didn't jump in right away; I kept the door open, feeling hesitation. I was putting blind trust and faith into a man I had only met at a party, once.

"You getting in or what?" Seth asked, brown eyes watching me. "You asked for this."

"I did." With a warbling smile, I ducked into the car and shut the door behind me. Seth nodded towards the driver, and the driver picked up on the cue, pulling away into the streets.

"What did I tell you?" Seth teased me.

"Don't act so mighty, we haven't cured me yet," I scolded him. I cleared my throat. "How are you so certain that this cure you've supposedly concocted up for me will work?"

"I'm dedicated to my work, and I'm a perfectionist." Seth kept his eyes out through the car window. "I bust my ass until I get the result I want."

"You said you were S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Yes."

"And they let you work outside of their facilities?"

"They're not happy about it, with what I bring home, but at the end of the day, if it's for the greater good, they learn to accept it." He wrapped his hands together and placed them in his lap. "You're making the right decision."

"I would hope so, this is my absolute last shot. S.H.I.E.L.D. tried and failed, my friends tried and failed. Three times might not be the charm on this." Anxiously, I messed with a blonde wave of my hair.

"It will be," Seth said in a determined tone. "And you'll be living proof of it, Kiara. You'll get to protect the world for ages to come."

"It's not going to be painful, is it, the procedure?"

He shook his head. "Nah. It'll be a simple injection."

"So the cure is ready?"

Seth nodded. "We just need to see if my genius has paid off."

I rolled my eyes slightly. "What's your fee?"

"Ah-ah, no charge. You're already going through enough, I don't want you to feel obligated to repay me."

"If you say so." I rested my head against the window.

The drive took us through a rather shady part of New York in which I had the fleeting thought of making sure the car was locked entirely so nobody could break in and attack. Unfortunately, this was where Seth's place was. The building itself wasn't too bad, but the outside could do with some rebuilding and touchups.

Seth and I let ourselves out, and the black car slunk away. With a gesture from Seth, I followed him into the building. The inside looked much healthier, more modern. It was a hidden find.

"This is your place?" I asked quietly.

"It used to be an old S.H.I.E.L.D. laboratory. I used to work in here until we got relocated due to New York." He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"So, it's just you here?" I looked around.

"There're a few others, but that's it." We turned a corner, our feet clacking on the tile flooring.

Seth used his hand to gain access to a testing room. I stared uneasily at the chair in the room. He had to coax me in. He went to one of the tables, turning on the computers and pulling up screens which I couldn't comprehend. I rubbed my arms.

"You can have a seat, I'll have my assistant bring the serum," Seth said absentmindedly to me.

Timidly, as though I was approaching a wild animal, I went to the chair and sat in it. I remained quiet and awkward, hearing Seth click and type away behind me. I blew out a breath. If this works, I'm safe. I'm back to being me. I'll have control again.

"She's finally here!"

I looked at the doorway to find a vibrant brunette making her way into the room, a clear vial of liquid in one of her hands. She didn't seem to be dressed in lab equipment, which made me look at her suspiciously. Her green eyes took me in in-awe, as though she was before a celebrity. I guess she was if she knew my superhero name.

"Sorry to hear your powers are going funky," she said, moving past me to go to Seth, "Seth's been busting his ass off to heal you. He's one hell of a hard worker. All right, here it is."

"Now, Kiara," said Seth, "I know this may sound strange, but, we're going to need to restrain you in case something happens."

"Wait, so you have no idea if this is going to work?" I felt the color leave my face.

"I can do all the correct science and measurements I want, but it doesn't pay off unless the result is what we want to see. But I'm confident this is going to work."

"Do you know any effects of this?"

"I guess we'll figure those out when we get it into your system." Seth came back into my view, holding the longest syringe I'd seen in my life. It held the clear liquid, the cure. "Alia, if you don't mind?"

Alia, the brunette in the room, had to fight me a bit so my arms could get strapped to the seat. This is just a precaution. They're helping you, not hurting you. Relax. I licked my lips, fighting the urge to twitch and pull the restraints out of their hinges. My heart was running at the sight of the syringe.

Seth could see my anxiety. "Nervous?" he asked.

"A little," I admitted as he came to stand at my side.

"Are you ready?"

I exposed my neck to him, showing him that I was. I had to assume that was where the serum was going to go, not my arm.

I felt Seth's warm hand on my neck, steadying me. I kept my breathing even through my nose. My eyes locked with Alia's, who watched the sight with interest.

I flinched at the slight pinch of the needle. My hands curled around the arms of the chair, tensed, just waiting for something to go wrong. Waiting for me to combust and kill Seth along with myself. My mind was on the assumption that Seth would fail, that he would kill me, himself, and Alia, and take down this building in the process.

We waited in tense silence.

Nothing happened. I didn't feel any different, either. Did that mean that it hadn't worked?

"Do you mind staying overnight for observation? We'll let you go in the morning."

I pursed my lips, in thought. Would a night be enough time for Tony and the rest of the gang to start a search party for me? I could always make up a story to cover my tracks. I could easily say that I wanted to be away from everything and spend some time in solitude. They'd understand, even if they really couldn't. "I don't have to be anywhere important," I told Seth slowly. "Do you think this will be a one-time injection?"

"Hard to say." He shrugged. "If this version doesn't work, I whipped up a few more just in case."

Great. So if this didn't work I became a test animal. I guess that was a small price to pay for wanting to save my own life. "Hey, uh, can I...?" I jiggled against the restraints.

"Oh, yes, of course," said Seth. He and Alia unstrapped me, and I sat up.

"How long do you think it'll take to settle in my system?"

"Possibly overnight, hence why I want you to stay."

I nodded in understand. It sounded reasonable enough.

"Alia will show you to your room. We'll drop you off in the morning."

I followed Alia out of the room and back through the halls. She didn't really say much to me, she was more focused on getting me where I needed to be. She seemed like she was in some sort of hurry, like she had to dump me into the room I was being taken to so that she could be done with me.

Alia opened the door to my room, and I stepped in. It was small, but it was quaint. There were no windows, but I guess I couldn't be too upset at that. It wasn't like I was staying here forever.

Before I could even say "thank you" to Alia, she had already left. I messed with my fingers, wondering how the night was going to go.

My phone buzzed. I sighed, looking. I could give you a few guesses who it was.

Feel like going out?

Not tonight. Not feeling very social. Sometime soon, Steve.

If you need anything, reach out, okay?

I smiled. I couldn't wait for this fiasco to be over. If Seth's serum worked, this worrying over me would stop. I could go back to being an Avenger, on-call and ready to battle the forces of evil set out to destroy the world.

Will do. Thank you :)

I hadn't realized I'd sent the smiley face until I'd looked at the message. I remembered what Tony had said about using faces in text messages, back to the first time Steve had included one in a message. It suggested that he was flirting or that he was trying to "court" me as Tony had put it.

I could admit this fiasco had brought Steve and me closer. It had brought me closer to my fellow Avengers, with the exception of Thor, and Natasha, and possibly Clint.

Guys, if this works, this situation will be resolved. I'll be normal again. I won't be a bomb anymore. I'll be me again. 

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