45 Chapter 45

So she answers the Colonel's question with, 'That's true. However, the reason I approached that HYDRA facility was because I could feel several people being in the process of being brainwashed.'

That seems to alarm them. Before they can ask anything, she continues, 'I'm a Psychic type and I can feel emotions. I knew the moment I felt their minds. I didn't like what they were doing, so I went to stop them.'

"So it was a whim?" the Colonel grumbles.

She shakes her head. 'I'm an empath. I can feel the despair all around me. It's… crushing. I don't wish to feel it, so I helped. And I'm willing to help more to stop my suffering and the ones of others.'

They are quiet, clearly deep in thought. And she lets them have this time, as it's also a good time for her to think about the truth of her words. She can feel a passive despair hanging out on all parts ever since she transformed into Deoxys. Like a soft perfume, it's easy to ignore. However, unlike it, this 'smell' doesn't dissipate. It remains there, constant.

Whenever she concentrates too much on it, she feels sad. Just by simply thinking about it, she can feel her mood change and now she's annoyed. It goes against her Jolly nature. So, when the Peggy asks her if she's okay with fighting, she's quick to say 'no'.

"No?" The Colonel repeats, incredulous. "You were the one who said wanted to help and now—"

'Exactly, I said 'help' not that I was going to fight.' She's firm in this. She's not going to choose a side and kill for them. She's not really against killing in this context, but if she does so, she needs to be sure it's not someone simply following orders. And maybe it's naïve of her to do so, but she just wants to protect. 'I can be a front-line medic. I have powers that allow me to heal superficial injuries and I can secure the patients.'

She sees he's ready to protest, so she intervenes. 'I'm not saying I won't attack. However, it won't be to destroy the other side, but to protect the ones I'm helping.'

"May I ask why?" Peggy is the one next to speak.

She smiles without humor. 'The Colonel has said it before: it's not really my war. Also, I simply don't wish to have their deaths in my conscience.'

"And what about the death of the ones we will lose as this war prolonged when you could have stopped it?"

She thought about it, about how hypocritical she's being, but in the end, she can't help it—she's human where it matters, after all.

Sighing, she decides to concede a bit. 'I can kill the leaders I categorize as evil of the opposed party if, and only if, your own leaders promise to not take advantage of the countries who lose the war. That means not taking their territory and not taking more than the deserved interest. Also, not causing even more violence towards their citizens.'

Peggy shakes her head sadly at the same time the Colonel says, "They will never agree to that."

She shrugs. 'Then you know my answer. The offer will remain there. The ball is now in your court.'

Her words seem to sour the Colonel's mood. Peggy is quick to compose herself though, even so, she can still feel her disappointment clear as day. Howard is still as animated as he watches everything, his eyes clear and intelligent like his son's. He glances to the other people in the room before asking, "So who's going to be informed about this?"

"What do you mean?" Peggy asks at the same time the Colonel says, "The higher-ups need to know."

Howard ignores Peggy as he looks at the Colonel. "Do they?"

Peggy frowns. "A lot of people have seen her. It'll be only a matter of time before the word spreads."

"Yes, yes. However, I think our new friend can manipulate minds easily, or am I wrong?" He once again strokes his imaginary beard. "You said it yourself: you helped the brainwashed soldiers. Though you didn't explain how you did it."

How… blunt.

Also, shit. Could he not say it like that? Now Peggy and the Colonel are giving her alarmed looks. Still, it's better to quickly answer as to not create misunderstandings.

'I can do so, yes. But I hold the sanctity of the mind in high regard. I would not play with it.'

"Who said about playing with the minds of others?" he says airily, waving a hand. "I meant only to change their memories a little to keep you a secret."

"That's immoral," Steve, the sweet summer boy, says. He turns his gaze from the Colonel to Peggy, "We can't do that… can we?"

His last words come hesitant at seeing their pondering expressions.

"Stark is right. We can have too many people know about you."

The Colonel's statement is followed by Peggy's neutral tone, "Are you okay to be kept hidden?"

'Being 'kept' sounds like I'm to be a pet. I'm merely agreeing to work with you, not for you. But, yes, I agree my existence should remain a secret from everyone but those at this table.'

Peggy blinks. "You don't want us to inform our higher-ups about you? That would be impossible if you want to work with us."

The Colonel is silent, but his expression is enough to know what he thinks about it. Howard grins instead, a laugh escaping him as he says in a tone of wonder, "You can transform into a human."

She nods at the same time the others take turns to glance between her and Howard. 'Steve knows about it already.'

The Colonel glares at the super soldier, who is quick to mention how he wasn't able to finish his report. Howard's ignores their interaction and instead leans forward. "Can we see?"

She tilts her head and looks around. 'I need some clothes first as I'll appear naked otherwise.'

Steve is quick to take off his jacket and give it to her, but Howard's next words stop her.

"Why do you care?"

'Excuse me?'

"Why do you care about your human nudity if you're not one? It seems you don't care currently. Why do so then?"

Shit.

She doesn't let her panic show on her face as she raises an eyebrow. 'Two reasons. One, I've been living in the human world for a while now and I've seen the importance your people apply to it. Two, the forms I usually take don't have external reproductive organs as yours do. I find that weird.'

The others seem to take her words at face value, but Howard frowns a little as he processes her words. She thinks he's going to keep getting her into trouble, but in the end he just asks about how her species' reproduction works.

She rolls her eyes, choosing not to answer. Not only because she doesn't know the answer, but because she's become uncomfortable. So she chooses to telekinetically grab the jacket and put it open in front of her, glad there's no one behind her. Otherwise she would have need to use the low-powered Dazzling Gleam again.

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Sorry for the long wait. Spent the whole week trying to write straight smut which I'm still unsure if I'll publish here (chapter 55 of this story), so yeah. Oopsie.

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