Hi, hello, good evening, morning, night. Your choice :)
First, because it's the most important thing today, Happy birthday my dear wolfsprinzessin . Love you and miss you and I dedicate this to you because we won't see each other on this fine day. Have a wonderful day!
Second, now that personal matters are settled, this is a mixture of comic and MCU. Would be helpful if you read Invincible Iron Man from 2015 but that's not obligatory.
Yeah, so, I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think! :3 Right, nearly forgot that again: As much as I wish, I don't own Marvel or any related characters. Title is taken from a Jane Fonda movie (though it has absolutely nothing to do with this, merely watched it while drafting out the plot).
CHAPTER 1
'What have you got for me, Stark?'
The Captain's voice sounds over the coms, destroying the silence of the battle. Natasha fires up the repulsor rays of her boots a little more to gain more altitude. Jarvis scans the environment. 'Down the next block are two more squadrons of Doombots. No sign of Vicky as of yet, neither can Jarvis detect any magic. Romanov, three more are coming your direction.', she informs the others.
Natasha can almost see Steve nod to himself. It's his own fault he didn't let her wire Jay into his suit as well. 'Good. We have the ground covered. Try to find Doom, that has priority.'
Nat huffs out a laugh. 'Nope, no chance, Spangles. There are too many and they are better armed than the others. Jarvis detects the heat signatures of flame throwers.' That's new. She wonders where Doom got that idea from.
Rogers sighs, knowing it's pointless to argue. Without Thor around, the team will need every air support they can get and Fury had made a point of not getting involved to not risk an international incident. So it's up to the Avengers to smash the robots who threaten the innocent citizens of New York. It's more of a tiresome business than a real threat and apart from some damage done to parking cars and some smashed windows, no real damage has been done.
This little game has been going on for months. Though Doom had claimed to have reformed, he still occasionally lets his Doombots roam the streets right in front of Avengers Tower but it seems to be more of an exercise, a reminder that he is still around and no hero like them and isn't meant to bring New York under his reign. At least they all hope that this is no prelude to an outright war.
Since the incident with Madame Masque some months ago Natasha likes to give him the benefit of the doubt. Doom had claimed they could and would be good friends in time. He had even given up his claim on Latveria, though how long that resolution will last, she doesn't want to guess.
How the super villain transformed into a simple nuisance that refuses to leave her alone for five minutes is a mystery for itself. It can't just have been about his change of appearance. In public Doom still dons his metal mask though Natasha had seen clear prove herself that he doesn't need it anymore.
Natasha zooms off to where Jarvis had detected the two squadrons of Doombots to help the others end this battle rather quickly. It's nice to train out in the streets and not just confided in a training room (Natasha is very proud of them but still, the space will always be limited). Plus she is dodging a meeting with the board which Pepper had insisted she would have to attend, so the brunette surely won't complain that she misses at least three hours of boring conversation about numbers all of them are well aware of. And Pepper can't even complain because Natasha has the perfect excuse. The others need her help in defeating one of the most powerful villains that ever walked this world. She can't possibly find a fault in that. No need to tell her about Doomsy's new status.
The robots march down the street in formation. Some cars are on fire which supports the thesis of the flame throwers. As soon as she shows up, the Doombots look up and start to fire. On the next roof, Natasha can make out Hawkeye's looming form, Rogers is on the ground, coming in from behind.
Natasha dodges the blasts of blue energy, then gives some shots from her part. Two Doombots blow up immediately, then a green glimmer encompasses them.
'Traces of Doctor Doom's magic detected. He has formed a protective shield around his Doombots.', Jarvis tells her while the next repulsor rays are deflected from the robots.
'Where is he?' Natasha grits her teeth. The repulsors won't go through and since Rogers is too close she can't try other weaponry without endangering the blond.
'Tracing.' Jarvis draws up a map, a red dot blinks not a hundred feet away from their current location. She swipes the map away and concentrates back on the robots. Barton's arrows don't fare much better than her weapons. Rogers' shield slashes through the Doombots though he nearly gets roasted by them.
Fortunately Jarvis had been able to get a good many readings of Doom's mystical energies or whatnots so he can triangulate the point of origin rather well.
Rogers swears rather loudly over the com when the flame throwers only miss him narrowly.
'I think I got a reading on Doomsy.', Natasha lets the others know. She doesn't really want to leave her team with these things alone. Though it is no real attack, the robots get better with each time.
'Go, we can deal with them.', Hawkeye lets her know though his arrows still show no response. He glides down to the ground to help the other two with his hand to hand combat weapons as the long distance ones prove futile.
Natasha takes that as her cue and flies towards the location of the bright red dot. The rooftop is empty though. Maybe he had found a way around being located again? She is just about to ask Jarvis to confirm the location when she hears it.
'Well, hello.' The voice sounds oddly mechanic. Natasha turns around to find the source. The metal mask is firmly in place but she can hear the smirk nonetheless. Victor von Doom leans casually against the wall behind him. She is more used to his unmodulated voice so he sounds kinda strange. Not that he ever sounded anything else but strange.
Natasha eyes him warily but he makes no move. So, whatever. She deactivated the coms and flips up the face plate. He could have killed her, probably all of them. He is playing but not to win. What he's playing at though, who can fathom to understand the way of an ex super villain?
Doom looks over his shoulder, but doesn't follow her example.
'Enjoying the view?', she asks pointedly. Natasha looks down to the streets where Rogers and Romanov clean up amongst the rest of the robots. At least they have figured out a way around the force fields.
'I do.' The hidden smile is audible. 'It was such a boring Tuesday, was it not? I thought we might all need a break from that.' Doom steps closer to the ledge and looks down. ' It was very entertaining, don't you think?'
Natasha rolls her eyes. 'What's the point in all of this then?', she asks though it is pointless.
'No point, my dear. Mere boredom. I do believe I wasn't the only one.' He glances back to where she stands.
'You didn't even try.', she states, resting her hands on her hips. Doom is getting more frustrating with every meeting, that much is clear. Natasha wishes he would just attack her so she'd have a good reason for blasting him from that stupid roof. Of course he had made no move in that direction. Stupid rules for heroes, she thinks, can't just attack an unarmed man. An unarmed man nonetheless who would claim to have nothing to do with any of this.
Doom shrugs. 'No, I fancy I didn't.', he says airily. 'It was more like.. flexing a muscle. I need my Doombots to be the best they can be to be of use to anyone. But you are correct, Miss Stark. No new weapon systems though I wish I would have seen your face after they activated the shield. It would have been too easy without them I believe.' It takes her a second to recognize the cracking as a laugh.
Nat sighs and shakes her head. 'You want them to be of help?' First he wants to help, now he wants evil robots who attack cities to help. This can't get any more messed up. It's a waste of energy yelling at Doomsy because of these stupid plans. She had tried. Like often.
'If you can take them out in mere seconds, any super villain deserving that name surely could as well.'
'Then why lead them to battle against us?', Nat demands to know.
Doom merely shrugs, Natasha fancies she could see a smile playing around the corners of his mouth if it wouldn't be for that dreadful mask.
Down in the streets the last robots fall. The rest of the team looks around but can't spot her and Doom on the high building. Natasha steps back from the ledge and flips down her face plate.
'Aren't you going to arrest me?', he asks when she turns away from him and prepares to leave.
'Why should I? You still got your diplomatic status. And you haven't really endangered anyone while saving me from a boring meeting. Furthermore, I doubt even I have a prison yet which could hold you.', she adds with a smirk. That she is working on one, she better keeps to herself.
Doom huffs. 'That may be true. But I am no longer dictator of Latveria.'
Natasha shrugs. 'The public doesn't really know yet. Your ban of reporters kinda keeps them from finding out on the evening news.'
A low chuckle leaves the metal mask. The sound should be hollow but also draws a smile to Nat's face which she is glad is being covered by her own facial mask.
'Good day to you, Miss Stark.'
'Natasha.', she automatically corrects. Why he insists on calling her by her last name whenever she is in her armor but deliberately uses her first name when encountering her out of it, even Victor von Doom probably couldn't explain. Must have something to do with self preservation though Nat can't really endanger him as long as he has his magic skills to block her blows.
'Of course, Natasha. Greetings to your friends.' He inclines his head.
'I'd rather not. I'll send you the bill.'
She hears him laughs before a green sphere encompasses the man and she finds herself completely alone on the rooftop moments later. Natasha sighs and activates her repulsors to carry her down to the street. Rogers and the assassins had finished the last robots by now.
Natasha won't lie, she kind of enjoys the little banter with von Doom. It's refreshing to know she is talking to a genius who will always understand what she is talking about and where she doesn't need to repeat every other sentence and explain every third word. It's the best about fighting Doom. At least it doesn't get boring.
'He fled.', Natasha says as soon as she lands near Rogers.
Steve isn't surprised by this. 'Was to be expected. Did he say anything?'
'Just the usual. You really think I'd still be listening after all these years?', she asks pointedly.
He merely shrugs. Doom usually doesn't stay around for a chat. 'Whatever. At least no one got hurt. Most people in this area are out, working. Something is up.' And that's why he is the Captain. He always gets strategies better than anyone else. Doom had stayed hidden for now, hadn't shown around his new face nor his changed alliances, so Natasha hadn't mentioned the hand he had in the Madame Masque debacle. 'That's the fourth attack on just three months. He is up to something.'
Natasha can't help but agree wholeheartedly. She had her suspicions all along ever since Victor proposed to help her (more like forced his way into her business). There is some grand scheme to be played, some greater price to be claimed.
'SHIELD is already on their way for clean up. Showers, med check, then debriefing in half an hour in the Tower.', Cap directs them. Natasha sighs rather loud and hopes one day he might get the hint, but today she has no such luck.
'Need a lift?' Natasha holds out her hand for Tasha who accepts it with that little trademark smile of hers when you aren't sure if she is grateful or just thinking of away to tear you apart in a really fun way.
Barton and Rogers can catch a ride with Coulson if they must and the Tower isn't too far off either. But the girls must stick together, especially when one of the girls is an assassin and the other might be scared by her. Natasha takes off, holding on tightly to Tasha in the meantime and within minutes they land on the terrace of Nat's penthouse where she lets Tasha down to let Jarvis strip her out of the suit.
'Did you get hurt?', Tasha asks as Nat while the brunette peels off the suit. She has to remind herself that her friends still believe Victor to be a villain who would want to see them all dead. She isn't so sure herself that is not true.
'Nah, I'm fine.'
'You should still get checked over by Bruce.', she insists.
'Not necessary, the blasts of the robots weren't good for the circuits but I am unharmed, I assure you. No need for a medical check.' No need to tell her either that she always skips the medical check if the fight hasn't left Natasha unconscious.
The fear that the arc reactor could stop working or that her breathlessness is an indicator to other, far worse, damage done to her heart, is a constant one in her life. She trusts Bruce but still, she prefers to choose herself who sees her naked and having her arc stared at isn't one of her favorite pastimes.
'It's a shame we didn't catch him or at least questioned him. Since that incident with you and him in San Francisco Doom has been strange now.', Tasha observes. She had found out on her own about Doom's involvement from whoever and however. Sometimes her spy abilities are even creepier than the rest. Fortunately even Tasha knows only half of the story and only what happened in the Mary-Jane's club.
'Has he ever not been? He probably had his own reasons to help me back then.'
'There must be some bigger scheme still. It was as if he wasn't trying very hard.'
Natasha hums noncommittal, then heads off for the bathroom. It hadn't been a tedious fight but her suit could certainly need an upgrade of the air conditioning system. She is used the weather of Malibu but even New York in the early summer experienced in a thick metal armor can be warm. She is quite glad when the undersuit is gone. Finally she's got the time to reflect on Doom's latest scheme.
Jarvis far too soon reminds her of the upcoming meeting with the rest of her team. Natasha sighs, then turns the shower off. Who needs these debriefings anyway? It's just sitting around with Agent and Cyclops, hearing the same story over and over again until even the most fantastic and interesting attack is dull and boring.
As expected the meeting takes an eternity during which Natasha sees herself forced to drink copious amounts of the worst coffee in the human history and having to retell her encounter with Doom not only three, but four times, which each time did the speculations about the meaning of his words climb higher. She thinks shortly of asking them if they would like the footage recorded by Jarvis so she could finally go, but ultimately decides against it less any lie about his exact phrasing and her exact behavior might be discovered.
After the meeting Natasha takes her phone out and finds that she has four missed calls. That means Pepper isn't as mad as she could be. She had probably seen the attack on the news.
'Who wants to go out, and grab some dinner?', Nat asks while typing an apology message and the promise to call her later.
Bruce, who had just been in the side line declines immediately, Tasha and Barton have some unfinished business with Agent, which leaves Nat and Spangles.
The blond has left Captain America behind, now he is simply Steve. He smiles expectantly.
'So, what do you feel like?', Natasha asks him when they make their way to the elevator. She is still typing away on her phone. There are several thoughts about her latest suit of armor which she would need to get into. Later, and most certainly not tonight. Meaning most certainly that by the end of the night the list would be worked through.
'I don't know, choose what you want.' Always the diplomat.
'Alright, Thai it is.'