We Rise And Fall Like Art

So I've had this idea for an age but I've been scared I was going to screw it up and I've been having a bad time so it never got written. This chapter is predominantly dialog because it's an introduction I'm sorry if you don't think it's very good I tried. I want this to be a surprise the whole way through so you will have to be patient everything will hopefully make sense later on I have everyones motives and things written down it's planned I hope its okay. As mentioned this will be eventual frostiron so if that's not your cup of tea then either don't read it or ignore it (but it does play a big part later on)

Chapter One: War Machine

"Stark, I presume?"

Tony's eyes shot up, cold and hostile. Whoever was addressing him had breached security, disabling Jarvis before the AI had time to send an alert. That kind of skill eliminated all his major competitors and left only rumors in their wake.

Two figures emerged from the doorway, bypassing yet another system that should be in deadlock.

A man and a women, both clad in black catsuits with matching grim jaws and prissy expressions, approached his station. Neither entered a two meter radius, but as if rehearsed they stood on ceremony for a second before pacing, circling opposite directions, feet tracing an imaginary circumference.

It was the women who spoke first, evidently the same person who had greeted him, "Tony Stark, Natasha Romanov. You may know me as Black Widow. Why is SHIELD so interested in you?"

Well, that cut straight to the chase. Tony was thankful for his stool being 'swivelly', allowing him to spin and catch her attention. She stopped prowling, and going by the lack of footsteps behind him so had the other.

"Drink?" Stark gestured to an array of bottles along his desk, before tipping himself a modest portion of whatever was closest. Her gaze fell on a vodka bottle, but by trained self control or a lack of want there was no attempt made to reach for it.

She breached the previous safe distance and got close enough to be intimate, her shock of red hair tickling his exposed collar, "Why is SHIELD so interested in you?"

"Who isn't?" His lips turned up into an unpleasant smile, "I could ask you the same question. Are you here to kill me Red Riding Hood because I've got a secretary who might not take kindly to the paperwork."

"If she wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already. Oh and I'm Clint Barton, by the way, thanks for asking," The man behind him chipped in, tone skulky. For such an imposing impression, he seemed softer than her, almost light hearted. Were it a different time and attire, he could have been just a mate down the pub.

"Why is SHIELD so-"

"How should I know? Why not ask them yourself?"

"I will ask again Mr Stark and I suggest cooperating or-"

"You ever been to Gulmira?"

The two spies exchanged blank glances, Natasha pulling back several paces. This time it was Clint who answered, "Once a couple of years back, some terrorists or another. Why?"

Tony threw a haggard smile behind him, bottom lip quivering ever so slightly, "It's a very, very different place now... If it's there at all."

"What the hell did they do to you in that cave?" Barton eyed him with trepidation. He knew the face of torture, and he knew the corruption that followed. Whatever virtues Stark had, they had long since burnt out.

"Pretty mundane torture, nothing too inventive," The genius played it cool, but the set of his shoulders said a thousand words.

"How'd you do it?"

The question was simultaneous - accidently so if the redheads furrowed brow was any indication - and he thought about letting the subject slide but thought 'what the hell'.

"I made a suit. Would you mind reactivating my - actually hold that I can do it myself," He rolled the wheels of his chair, gliding effortlessly aside to reach an access point. Quick fingers rebooted Jarvis, "Hey J, be a dear and bring out Mark 1?"

"Of course. Company, sir?"

"They insisted," He shrugged flippantly before gesturing to the wall where his invention was being unloaded, "This is how I did it. May I introduce you to the first War Machine?"

Clints whistle was appreciative, "They don't call you 'merchant of death' for nothing."

There was a second of silence as the two spectators admired the handy work. It was actually a pretty clunky beast, an almost exact replica of the one he had used to escape although it temporarily lacked feet repulsors which littered the desks. Naturally the original him and Yinsen built was still scattered in a thousand pieces among sand in Afghanistan, but what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

"What do you say about joining us?"

The question was so farfetched it took him a second to realize it was directed at him. Natasha was in his proximity yet again, something young and excited igniting her features, "We're recruiting."

After a second or two Clint elaborated, "Shields on our radar and someone has to bring those sons of bitches down. We're raising hell and it would be a pleasure to have you accompanying us."

"I don't play well with others."

"So we've heard, but we also heard you were dead until a week ago. Besides, we're not asking you to play," Her voice struck ice, more of a command than a request. Refusal wasn't an option.

"Who's in the lineup? Anyone I'd recognise?" Tony span round a couple of times before landing with a 'spy' on either side, favouring her with a sideways glance as he heard mechanics clicking in the background. The suit had seen enough light, and given how he had not finished the Mark 2 prototype it was easier to be questioned less. Especially if he was valuable to them.

"I'm sure you've heard of Bruce Banner."

"Pioneer in Gamma Radiation," Stark agreed, "His latest paper on thermonuclear astrophysics was half awesome. If you've already got a brain like his, why'd you need me? I mean I understand I'm irreplaceab-"

"It's his brawn we're after, actually," Clint corrected, but quickly tightened his lips as though he had said too much and gestured at his partner to finish where he left off.

"Steve Rodgers just joined our ensemble, but he's got ulterior motive. Namly he's just woke up from world war two to Shield stuffing lies down his throat."

"Good ol' Captain America? Mr Freedom himself?"

"Yeah. Incase you hadn't noticed Shield aren't the most liberal speakers. He's more a member of the rising tide, but has an alliance with us."

"Anyone else?"

"With any luck, we're on our way to pick the new guy up now. Tell me, Stark, you're not afraid of thunder are you?"

Hope you enjoyed it! As always, comments and criticisms and suggestions and such are welcome. If you don't understand something please bare with me because it might be resolved later on!

Thank you! :3