Chapter 3- You're an Avenger Now

"We've got Barton," Draco said, his knees bouncing up and down as the adrenaline wore off. "Natasha took him out- he's in the room next over."

"And Loki?" Aries's voice was quiet from her position on the medical table, sending out her magic to heal the broken bones, concussion, cuts, bruises…

"He got away," Draco replied. His voice cracked. "Before he did…before he got away, he killed Coulson."

A sharp intake of breath startled him. The pain he felt was added to as he saw Aries fight to hold back the tears that were inevitably coming. Her hands curled, clenching tightly.

"I'm sorry," she rasped. "I knew you were close."

"It's okay," Draco said, his voice numb. "We always knew what could happen. Were always prepared for it…" He sighed. "It just doesn't seem real until it happens."

Aries rolled over to face him, her eyes shining with tears. "I'm scared Draco…" Her voice cracked. "I don't want to be in another war."

He took her pale hand in his own, and spent a few moments deep in thought, rubbing his thumb in smooth circles over her skin. "There won't be one if we can help it…" He matched her gaze. "And even if there is, it won't be as bad as last time. Nothing can be as bad as last time." He sighed, forcing back his own tears. "I never meant for you to get caught up in this."

"I shouldn't have gone into the city by myself," Aries corrected, "It's not your fault."

"You're my baby sister Aries," Draco choked. "I should've protected you better. I've lost you once, I don't want to lose you again."

Aries let out a silent whimper. "I don't want to lose you."

The siblings clasped hands, just matching each-others' gaze in silence; an unspoken conversation having passed between them. Eventually, Draco pulled out a small vial of Dreamless Sleep; fingering it in a resigned way, a sad sort of expression marking his features.

"You'll need all your strength if you're going to try to break this bond," he murmured, handing it over to the youngest Malfoy.

"How strong is the dose?" she asked quietly.

"You won't have any dreams."

Aries gave a minute nod before downing the contents. The effects were almost immediate and she almost dropped the bottle but Draco slipped it out of her hand before she could. Her eyes drooped as he ran a hand through her hair, standing at her bedside.

"Sleep while you can short stuff," he muttered. "You don't know when you'll next be able to."

.

"How is she?"

Draco looked over his shoulder to the door from his spot next to the expresso machine, and eyed Agent Romanov absently, before turning back to his coffee.

"Sleeping," he answered. "She'll be fine when she wakes up."

"Do you really think she can do this?" Natasha asked, stepping up beside him. "Break the control over Loki's mind?"

Draco paused, his mind going blissfully numb for a few moments. "In the war, a lot of things happened, but primarily was that we found her; she had been under our noses all along, and been playing the part of the Dark Lord's number one target's twin, whilst being the adopted daughter of a double-agent." He added a spoon of sugar and began to stir. "Potter was suffering from mind-attacks via the Dark Lord, and Aries kept him out. She could be up all night fending off attacks through a bond Potter and the Dark Lord shared and still be able to smile and laugh the next morning. It was incredible really, but the price to pay was that she often saw the visions being sent through. Death Eater meetings, torture sessions, raids..." Draco sighed and looked up from his coffee and searched the assassin's eyes. "If anyone can do it, it'll be her."

"You're just worried at what cost," she observed quietly.

"Exactly." He leant against the counter, nursing his steaming drink. "Exactly," he repeated to himself, murmuring the word almost silently.

The two just stood there for a very long time, not saying anything to each other; accepting the compatible silence. It was reassuring in a way; they were two soldiers, two survivors, each with their own histories, each with their own problems but staring at the future and standing together. A promise passing between the two.

The door swung open and Steve Rogers swung half of his body round.

"We've found Loki," he said. "We leave as soon as Stark's fixed his suit."

.

Aries was torn out of the blissful state of mind that was nothingness by the sharp opening of a door. Her instincts went ablaze, causing her magic to immediately lash out before her mind had caught up. The intruder was pinned against the wall by the flowing blue energy she knew her own.

"Agent Romanov?"

"Yes," the red-haired assassin said curtly, "Your brother sent me- we're going after Loki."

Aries faltered, her magic releasing the assassin. There were a few seconds in which her vulnerability shone through before her Occlumency shields were slammed down, locking her needless emotions behind steel barricades. Her shoulders rolled back and she nodded resolutely.

"Where do you need me?" she asked.

Natasha eyed her appraisingly, a glint of approval in her eyes. She wondered, perhaps, if this is what the girl had done on those nights and mornings she had protected her brother's minds from attacks. "First, you need to suit up."

Aries blinked. "I have a suit?"

Natasha smirked, giving a short nod.

The only females on the team quick-marched through the corridors swarming with agents and engineers. The damage caused by the unexpected attack was large, and the teams that were sent to fix it had to be the same in numbers if Director Fury wanted his helicarrier to be working at optimum capacity again. The masses parted for them quickly, seeing the steely determined glare in Natasha's eyes, and the blankly cold ones in Aries's. They stopped outside what Aries vaguely knew to be the weapons unit from her quick attack into the S.H.I.E.L.D database.

"Fury ordered one to be made for you as soon as you were brought in," Natasha said, leading her through the unit, until they stopped before a cabinet indented into the wall. She glanced back at the recently graduated student. "It's got lots of toys."

Aries's silvery blue eyes went wide as the door slid away.

Her suit was awesome. The trousers were a tight leather type material, fitted down on the mannequin snugly, ending in black leather ankle boots that were as supple as a pair worn for years. The tunic was much the same with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo over the right breast pocket. And then there was the jacket. The back of it fell down to mid-thigh, slits either side of the flap before the front area where it reached but a centimetre higher. The long sleeves had holes for her thumbs to slip through, and hard, flexible plate was on the edge resting comfortably where the dip after the heel of her hand would go. It was of the same material as the rest but instead blue, nearly the same shade as her eyes. The outfit as a whole was arranged to fit snugly, and undoubtedly had hidden tricks.

Next to the mannequin on which lay her suit were the various weapons S.H.I.E.L.D was capable of providing her. Two silver hunting daggers hung there, before being surrounded by various switchblades and knives. Her brow furrowed slightly and gave a questioning glance at Natasha.

"Your brother told us you were particularly well-trained in blades," she smirked, "A Malfoy tradition apparently."

"And a Prince one," she murmured to herself, lightly fingering the razor sharp blades.

Changing into the suit was a little difficult, considering she had to have a guide on where various things were and where certain scabbards were designed to be. She also possessed a gun on her left leg- something she had no idea how to use so she decided it would do as a blunt object to hit people with if nothing else- and the soles of her boots had blades in the toes if she tapped her heels together.

Her only regret was not having all of this in the war…

Aries shook her head, silky platinum tresses falling around her face- blocking all those thoughts from her mind. She stepped out of the changing room, and stood before Natasha, whose gaze rolled over her, making a face of approval. She couldn't help but feel slightly proud that any part of her could get the Black Widow's approval.

"In the field you'll be known as Agent Rapier, as will anyone of a lower security clearance will know you," Natasha said, as they took to the corridors once again, "Your brother is Agent Crow- I'm not sure why."

Aries mulled her codename over in her mind, before answering Natasha's unasked question, "His animagus form is a crow. Bringer of death." She sighed slightly, "In the war he had very specific skillset- his animagus form reflects that."

"Your brother is a shapeshifter?"

She nodded.

"And what did you do in the war?" Natasha asked, "Agent Malfoy has already told me that you defended your brother's mind from attacks, but surely that was not all?"

"I made the poisons." Her eyes became distant, "All the potions I made were used as torture weapons, as hitmen…they were all flawless. I even invented a few…." She coughed away a choke, forcing the emotion away from her voice as she gave a furious swipe of both of her eyes. "My identity was known as Liquid Death; we'll leave it at that."

Natasha nodded. She had her own red in her ledger- she wouldn't condemn another for having the same.

.

Whether it be war or battle, it was coming, and it felt the same.

It had the same taste of apprehension.

Of the thickening before a storm.

Aries knew this was it.

If she failed now, it would be war.

They were at the fork in the road, and it was time to choose; which road would they travel down.


A/N- I apologise for this taking a month and a day to update, but I had genuinely thought I had posted this chapter. Apparently not. So what we're left with is a late update, and a short chapter. Sorry about that.

Also, I have a question for you all... Are you going to want a prequel or sequel? I don't care which or if both, but I want to know if you would like to see that when this one is finished (only a chapter or two to go!). And if neither of those- perhaps a different story Avengers/Harry Potter related. I do have a few waiting in the wings for me to pay attention to them. If you could let me know in the way of reviews, that would be great.

Review Responses:

Emma: Well...I updated?

maraudersanarchy: Thanks, I'm glad you like it. Also, I love the name, and I'm sure the Marauders would approve.

fallenangelsofolympus: Hello again. Thank you for reviewing, and I'm happy to know you enjoy it.

worldtravellingfly: Thanks- I quite liked that part too. I'm not going to stick strictly to canon couples at all- if I go down that root. I don't find it at all plausible that they all ended up marrying the first person they had a crush on. And I don't like the Harry/Ginny pairing to au revoir to that one. However, thank you for your input- much appreciated.

Thank you to you four lovely reviewers, I will be sure to send you cookies (and if you don't like cookies or can't have them, then I'll just send you a voucher for some random supermarket.)

-HazelVex