A/N: Hey guys, this is my first go at an Avengers fic. I hope you like it. Review and tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers, they belong to Marvel. Only the OC's are mine
Arista glanced at her surroundings. Drunkards and criminals alike scattered throughout the cramped tavern. The stench of alcohol and smoke hung in the air, stinging her throat with each breath. She turned back to the bar maid and motioned for her to refill her glass. Throwing a few coins onto the bar she downed her drink and took her leave. Deciding she wasn't going to get any information from the surly drunks that night. She would try again later. Her only concern was to get back to Mellissande. It wouldn't be a long walk back to the building she resided in.
Upon entering into the foyer of the building, Arista caught sight of the beautiful blonde woman she had called friend for most of her life. "Mellissande, I was just looking for you." She called out breaking out in a run up the long staircase. Her long chestnut curls falling in waves around her face and shoulders as the hood of her cloak fell from her head. "I just left El Loco Diablo. Nothing new this time around. Still the same crowd with the same conversations."
Mellissande frowned. "Don't worry, Arista. Someone will slip up." She said looking down at the papers she was holding. Rifling through them, she pulled out a folder and handed it to Arista. "But we do know where he's going next." She said with a small smile.
Arista took the folder and began to open it. Glancing up at Mellissande, she smiled. "Does this mean you get to come out from that awful office of yours? And come with me on a mission?" She asked, anticipating the answer. Mellissande nodded. "Finally. It's been ages since we got to go out together. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. We will go to New York City in the Midgard realm. I've already contacted some people about it. But Arista," Mellissande said with a stern look. "You will have to learn to work with others."
"Oh, so now I'm not a sociable person?" Arista asked with a grin, "Have a little faith in me, Mels."
Mellissande smiled and ushered Arista to the guest bedroom, "Sleep now. We will prepare for the journey in the morning, and we will feed before we leave. I expect you have a bag packed already?" She asked
"Of course. I'm prepared for anything. It's all part of being your top assassin." Arista said with a Cheshire grin. Mellissande smiled and closed the door after a quick good night. Making her way to the bed, Arista slowly shed her cloak. Undoing her silver and blue armor, packing it away in a small chest she carried with her. Pulling herself into the bed, she let sleep take her. Anticipation seeping into every fiber of her body, for tomorrow she would be going to one of the lower realms.
"Tony, get up." An angry Nick Fury said walking into the conference room. "We have visitors coming in this evening. I need everything to run smooth." He said glancing around the room at the men and women assembled. "Stark, they will be staying with you during the time they are here. So make sure they are comfortable."
"And what makes you think I'm going to agree to having a couple strangers in my tower?" He said sitting up. "You know I don't like people going through my things."
"Because, they are the ones who will help us take out the thing that took out half the subway system last week. So they are staying with you. They're new around here so make sure they are comfortable." Fury said walking out of the room, signaling the end of the meeting.
"So who are these people I'm supposed to let stay at my place?" Stark asked glancing at Banner. Who in turn shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't have a clue. This is the first I've heard of it." He said standing up. "How about you guys?" He asked looking at Agent Romanoff and Barton.
"If you would have opened the e-mail Fury sent you, then you would have a clue. No pictures of them though, but they are skilled. All the report says is that they will be here tonite. And Fury says to watch our toes around them. Apparently one of them is easily angered." Agent Romanoff said leaning back in her chair.
"Sounds like they should take a lessen from Bruce." Stark said gesturing toward his friend.
"I told you already, I'm always angry." Banner said with a smile as he made for the door. "But, I'm not gonna be the one to upset Director Fury, so I'm going to go clean up. I suggest you do the same." And with that, everyone filed out of the room.
"I guess I should have someone set up my guest rooms then." Stark said more to himself. "Jarvis, can you call one of the maids up to the guest floor? I need the floor set up for two visitors."
"Already have, sir." The disembodied voice said. "And your guests should be arriving within the hour."
Standing in front of the bar, he made himself a drink. "And to think, this time last year, I never would have thought myself the entertaining type." He said to himself.
"Sir, I have two young women trying to gain access to your elevator." Jarvis said pulling him from his thoughts.
"Well it sounds like our guests are here. Allow them access." A few seconds later he heard the the unmistakable sound of the elevator coming to a halt. The doors opened, revealing the exact opposite of what he had expected. Two women stepped out, each one the complete opposite of the other. One with elbow length honey colored hair, almost amber colored eyes, and milk colored skin. Standing proud and tall at a height of almost six feet. And next to her was her exact opposite. Chestnut colored hair fell in waves around her shoulders and cascaded down her back, glacial blue eyes, with a tan complexion and considerably shorter. Head held high as she stepped out of the elevator after her blonde counterpart.
"And who are these lovely ladies?" Banner asked coming in from the balcony.
"I haven't had the pleasure of asking yet." Stark replied. "Ladies? May I ask your names?" He asked ushering them into the women into the living room.
"I am Mellissande. I spoke briefly with your Director Fury when we got here. He told us to come up and get comfortable. He just seemed slightly astonished when we told him we were here to help with your dilemma." The blonde woman said with a puzzled look.
"Arista." The second woman said. "Fury said we were supposed to talk immediately with a Mr. Stark."
"First, I am Tony Stark. And second, I think everyone is going to be a little astonished about you guys." He said looking them up and down. "We honestly were expecting a little more, testosterone, and a little less estrogen."
Arista's eyes narrowed. "You mean to question our presence just because we are women? I'll have you know that I am feared in our realm." She said, fingers twitching. As if they were itching to grip a weapon.
"Arista." Mellisande said lightly touching the smaller girl's arm. "I told you to play nice. Please excuse my friend. She has slight anger issues. And can you please let everyone know we are here? Your Director Fury has asked that a meeting be held to brief us on the dilemma at hand. He said he would be back in an hour. We now only have fifteen minutes if my earth time is correct." She said glancing at the wall clock.
"Absolutely. Jarvis, can you tell everyone that our guests have arrived and to be present in the conference room within the next fifteen minutes?" Stark said.
"Right away, sir." The disembodied voice said.
"All set. Now, Shall we head that way?" He asked holding an elbow out to each girl.
"Thank you Mr. Stark." Mellissande said with a smile accepting his left arm. Arista gave a nod and took his right. The three of them walking to the elevator and taking it down to the conference room. The doors opened revealing a handful of people mulling around a table. All talking immediately stopped as everyone turned and saw the two women flanking Tony.
"Hello ladies." Director fury said as he motioned for them to sit near the head of the table. They made their way to the chairs that sat on either side of the table. Earning questioning glares from everyone they passed.
Arista surveyed the people of the room with cautious eyes. Fingers itching to grasp the sword that should have strapped to her waist. She had agreed to leave it and the rest of the possessions she had brought with the security guard downstairs. Everyone's eyes followed her movements through the room as she slowly made her way to the head of the table. Mellissande giving her a reassuring look as she pulled out the empty chair and sat down.
"Guys, this is Mellissande," Director Fury said gesturing to the tall blonde to his left, "And this is Arista." He continued turning to the petite brunette. "They are here to help us with this new threat."
Mellissande gently dipped her head in greeting as her name was announced. Standing up she pulled an envelope out of her bag security had let her keep. "His name is Sylus, we have been trying to find him for months. He dropped off our charts for a while. Until a few days ago, the same time he shut down your subway system." She said pulling a few photos out of the envelope and passing them around.
"Wait, so how do you guys know who he is?" A red head woman said taking one of the pictures.
"Agent Romanoff, he is an entity of their realm. Mellissande and Arista have been trying to track him down since he started slaughtering people of their race." Fury said matter of factly.
"Actually, he tried to take over our council. He's wanted for the murder of two councilmen." Mellissande corrected.
"Your council, Mel. I do not answer to them. I am loyal only to those who earn it. And they certainly have not earned my loyalty." Arista said with a menacing look in her cold eyes.
"Well, I think we figured out which one to watch our mouths around." Agent Romanoff whispered to the man she was sitting next to. The man nodded in agreement.
"Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton, would you care to share with the group what you're whispering." Fury said catching the two agents attention.
"Just taking mental notes about the target." Agent Romanoff stated.
"Do not underestimate him. Arista is the best of the best. And even she has had problems keeping up with him." Mellissande said with a distant look.
"So what's your talent, sweetheart?" Stark asked looking at Arista. Who in turn gave a small chuckle.
"None of your business, Mr. Stark." She said with a deviant look in her eye. Flipping her long, dark hair behind her shoulder.
"Woah, easy there tiger. Was just a question." He said throwing his hands up in mock surrender.
"Risty, please remember our conversation before we arrived about being polite." Mellissande said in a commanding tone as she stood from her chair and started to walk around the table. "We don't need to make enemies here."
"Why should I? The only reason I'm here is to take Sylus down." Arista said standing and slowly making her way to the door. "I'm not here to make friends, Mel." And with that she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"I am truly sorry, she doesn't work very well with others. She never really has in the time I've known her." Mellissande said as she picked up her folder and began putting her things back inside of it. "And she is not one who likes to be controlled. I found that out not long after meeting her. She really is a force to be reckoned with." She finished with a smile.
After what felt like hours, the room finally cleared out and Mellissande was able to make her way into what she figured was the common area. Couches, a few chairs and a table set with magazines littered the vast expanse of the room. She made her way to the sliding window that would allow her access to the balcony that over looked the city. Arista had been granted permission to bring her belongings up to her room, and was currently going through her things to make sure they hadn't been touched.
"So what's her story?" Mellissande was startled at the sound of Tony's voice as he joined her in the room. Along with his friend, Banner.
"What do you mean?" She asked looking back and forth between the two men.
"She's hiding something. We saw the look she gave you when she talked about your 'council'." Tony said coming up next to her and opening the sliding door leading to the balcony. Motioning for her to step out first.
Mellissande took a deep breath, preparing for the inevitable. "She is bound to me, in a sense." She said walking to the railing. The wind whipping her golden hair.
"Bound to you?" Tony asked following suit and gripping the railing next to her. "A little less vague, if you please?"
Another deep breath from Mellissande, hands gripping the rail till her knuckles turned white. "I freed her from a lifetime of imprisonment. She had been there for some time when I happened upon her, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. The council was talking about a death sentence to ensure she wouldn't have a chance to repeat her crimes." She paused for another breath, "And I appealed her case, finding that she was much more useful alive. I put her skills to use to help bring down the scum of our race." She finished. Looking up at Tony as she let the information sink in.
"So, you earned her loyalty. That's what her outburst was about when you mentioned the council." Banner said, voicing what Tony had been thinking.
"Indeed. She is much like you, Mr. Banner. The only exception being that you have a cap, so to speak, on your anger. Where as she does not. Her only outlet is violence. And being in your realm, we can't let her get too out of it." Mellissande said pushing herself back from the railing and turning to make her way back inside. "And that is where I come in. I help her stay at peace with herself."
"If you don't mind us asking, what did she do to earn such a harsh punishment?" Banner asked.
"That is not my story to tell." She said with a sad smile. "It is hers, and hers alone. I can only tell you that she will tell you when she feels it is needed." And with that she vanished into the building to find Arista.