From The Ashes - 014 (Patreon)

Chapter 014 – Reflection

[2012]

“I didn't mean to disturb you.”, Pepper continued with a quick glance at my hands, where the two energy constructs just vanished into thin air, “I just wanted to thank you for saving Tony.”

Nodding in acknowledgment of her words, which seemed to be enough for her, her smile widened a bit as she gestured to the bags in her hands and told me: "I also brought you some new clothes that you can change into if you want. J.A.R.V.I.S. calculated your sizes, so they should fit. If not, I can get you something else."

Rising from my seated position with a short burst of cosmic energy, I landed in front of her and took the bags from her extended hands, her surprise at seeing me float while surrounded by a bluish aura rather short-lived.

“Thank you.”, I replied gratefully since I was in dire need of some new clothes.

I had sensed Pepper's arrival a few hours ago through my Extrasensory Perception, granted by the spiritual energy that was enhancing my mind.

"There is also some breakfast prepared inside, for you and the others, if you are hungry.", Pepper added kindly before tactfully retreating and leaving me to myself again.

I quietly watched her return inside and couldn't help but have a favourable impression of her. She was polite, humble, beautiful, and above all kind-hearted.

Taking a glance at the clothes inside the bags, I returned to the guest suite with a flash of blue smoke, deciding that it would be a good thing to get freshened up and change into something other than rags.

…

Stepping back inside and approaching Tony, who was waiting for her, Pepper couldn't help but throw a quick glance behind her, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as she saw that Noah had disappeared.

She wasn't sure what it was but Noah's presence felt very different to her than the other Avengers. Unlike Thor and Steve who seemed human and felt human, even though they clearly possessed powers that were beyond any normal human, Noah strangely did not feel like a human.

Naturally, Bruce was a different case since he was a human, right up until the moment that he wasn't anymore.

He had only thanked her with two simple words while otherwise staying quiet but his very existence was somehow accompanied by a strange sense of intensity as if the gravity in his proximity was somehow heightened, the air around him vibrating with a sense of unbearable power.

She also felt a bit guilty at heart that she felt relieved that Noah had left but his gaze was just difficult to endure, the feeling of his eyes on her back almost a physical sensation that brought a strange pressure with it.

Pepper naturally understood that she was just a normal human when compared to those 'gods' in human shape, so maybe the impression that she got of them was colored by her own limited perception, but Noah was a titan even by their standards, or at least it felt like he was.

…

After brushing my teeth, shaving, and having a quick shower, I felt much more human even though I could just clean myself with a burst of cosmic energy. It was still more relaxing to do so while hot water ran down my form though and it gave me a semblance of normalcy in this crazy new reality.

The bags Pepper had given me contained several sets of fresh clothes that matched my size, all from expensive brands and of exceptional quality. There were also a pair of comfortable black sneakers and some leather dress shoes in the same colour.

Putting on a long-sleeved dark-grey button-down shirt and a pair of light-blue jeans, as well as some sneakers, socks, and underwear, I stood in front of the mirror and found it hard to recognize myself.

Aside from needing a haircut, I hadn't looked this well-groomed in a long time.

I hadn't really taken care of myself since I lost her. I was still doing my workouts habitually but I didn't shave regularly, not to mention iron my clothes. I often looked unkempt even though I was clean.

It was strange to see myself like this, and I probably spent more than a few minutes just gazing at my reflection, thinking about how I looked as if someone had turned back time.

Nobody had, though. I was still alone and she was still gone.

Still, after looking at myself for a while and recognizing the despair in those grey eyes that stared back at me, I couldn't help but frown and summon the mythical fire slumbering within my veins, as well as the power inside the well of cosmic energy that was residing within my chest.

My dark hair whipping around my face, I stood in the large bedroom surrounded by a storm of blue fire and space-rending cosmic energy, my right chest pulsing with an intense blue light, its rhythm reminding one of a heartbeat.

And finally, I could see something else in my reflection, something that wasn't just pain and emptiness.

Feeling the immeasurable power that flowed through me, contained only by my will, I realized that I had changed, that I could change.

I was one of the most powerful creatures on Earth, a god amongst men.

I had no idea where this path to power would take me but for the first time in a long while, I was hopeful about my future. Because if I had really changed, it proved that I could change.

It proved that there might be days ahead when her loss wouldn't be as devastating anymore. I naturally didn't want to forget her, but I just didn't want to be broken anymore.

And maybe, I didn't have to be.

Calming the blazing storm of energy, I brushed away a few stray looks that impaired my vision as I moved to leave the room and get some breakfast.

Through my Observation Haki, I could sense that the others were also awake and already eating. And I could also sense that there was a foreign presence amongst them, one that felt ruthlessly stern and sly, and entirely human.

Stepping into the large seating area, I ignored the large variety of deliciously presented breakfast options on the table at the side as my gaze settled on the bald African American man wearing an eyepatch and a trenchcoat.

His arms crossed behind his back, Fury was quietly discussing something with Stark when his single eye suddenly fell on my figure.

I could sense the tension that suddenly took hold of the Director, his posture becoming more upright as he carefully watched my approach, his trepidation well hidden considering that he was a normal human.

Still, even suppressed, his emotions couldn't escape my perception and I was rather glad about that. I wouldn't mind any given advantage when dealing with a spy and killer of his caliber.

I had expected to meet the Director of SHIELD sooner or later, though even I couldn't make any assumption on how such a meeting would go.