Forsaken
Prologue
The conference room was quiet; the Avengers sat in awkward silence, minus the team leader who was currently being treated on the med floor, avoiding eye contact with the local billionaire at the end of the table. Toni stared down at the paper sitting loosely in her grasp, tears, that she wouldn't dare let fall, hang loosely on the edge of her eyelashes. Blinking them back, she slowly raises her head to glance at her teammates. Natasha's face remained stoic, though her eyes spoke volumes. Volumes and volumes. All of them, accusation and betrayal. Toni glanced away quickly, turning to the next friend in the line, bird boy and Banner were exchanging weary glances, though whether because they supported her, or just didn't want to be in the room, remained unclear. She could almost swear that Bruce's fist's were tinting on the olive side. Toni looks back down at her shaking hands in revelation. Thor expressed his emotions freely.
He slammed his fist against the black surface, "How dare you insult this woman, your own S.H.I.E.L.D kin, with accusations!" He exclaimed, glaring viciously at the others in disgust.
Fury didn't even flinch, "I don't need a loose cannon, who can't even follow the simplest of orders, on my team."
Thor growled, "You're team?! Nay, those of us heroes, her peers, should decide upon this."
Fury shrugged, "It's already been decided, and unless more than half of you choose to veto it, there's nothing I can do."
"Of course we choose to veto it! We are brothers in arms, and no misunderstanding will break our faith! Correct, my friends?" Thor expressed, relief flowing through his hunched shoulders as they relaxed slightly.
Silence clouded over the room once again. Thor stood, smiling widely at his false triumph, only to have it fall at the lack of response in the room.
"My friends?" A panicked squeak scratched the gods throat. Toni finally looked at her team, only to feel her held back tears spill. All eyes downcast, even…
"…Bruce?" Toni would normally have hated that her voice cracked, but at this point, she just didn't care anymore. She watched as he glanced up, briefly meeting her gaze, before dropping his head to his chest. Toni wanted to think that he believed her, but clearly he thought the same as the others. Ingrate. Traitor. Evil. Unworthy. Toni stood, reaching both clenched fists up to wipe of the stranded streams of water, in an attempt at keeping whatever dignity she has left.
"I see how it is. Fine. I'll leave willingly, and I won't fight you on it. I already explained myself, and gotten my two cents in, so I'll be on my way." Toni turned and started towards the door.
"Toni, wait-" Clint called out, just as she reached the doorway. Toni whooshed around, slight hope igniting inside her heart, "What about the tower?"
Anger seared past pain in her heart, as she turned and slammed the door shut; the ring vibrating throughout the shells of those present. Thor raged out the door after her, calling after his lost teammate. Bruce and Natasha glared viciously at Clint, who appeared to shrink lower into his seat.
