Aftermath and Fallout
"We have the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, in custody." The lead Hydra soldier says over his comlink.
"Excellent… bring her to the Siberian base for a homecoming." The familiar smooth voice of Baron Strucker says over the channel.
"We'll do, sir. Hail Hydra." The lead soldier says as his team loads the unconscious Natasha upon the transport truck. Suddenly loud explosions rock the fortress above and the truck squeals its tires to get away. The vehicle zooms out of the transport tunnel which comes out on the other side of the mountain. They hurry down the snowy road until a burst of rainbow light strikes the road ahead. A lone figure rises as the light disappears just as quickly.
"Run 'em over!" The soldier commands the driver and the truck accelerates. The figure raises a hand and suddenly the truck, and all it contains, goes into the air and stops all forward momentum. The lugnuts on the tires come off then the tires and the truck are set down just off the road. The wheels drop and bounce then settle in the snow as well, one rolls down the road. The figure, now hovering in the air, floats around towards the back as the team pours out training their gunlights on their otherworldly attacker. They come face to face with a hovering woman in green and dark leather with gold armor that is more decorative than functional. Two gossamer ribbons of shimmering gold drift about in the air eerily behind her as does her shoulder length, wavy golden hair which is streaked with pale blonde. She eyes the group of men curiously with sad emerald eyes. The lead soldier deduces she is Asgardian based on the style of her armor.
"Take her down!" The lead soldier commands and the guns fire rapidly at the strange woman… but the bullets slow down and catch in the very air before her. The only movement she makes is a small curl of her ruby-painted lips and her shadowed eyes flutter shut.
"Is that all?" The woman asks curiously then waves her left hand to the side dismissively and the bullets all fly off impacting the snow in a flurry away from the road. "Sleep." She then commands softly and the soldiers start dropping. The lead soldier falls to his knees and eyes this strange, beautiful woman as she glides calmly to his position at the back of the truck.
"Who… are… you?" The lead soldier asks resisting the growing lag in his thinking as sleep pulls harder and harder at his mind. It is a rapidly losing battle.
"Phoenix." She answers in a soft whisper before he blacks out completely. Sigyn then looks inside the truck and raises her right hand and makes a 'come here' motion and Natasha's unconscious form floats out of the open backdoor.
'Fear not, little Princess. All shall be well… soon. Rest now and recover.' Sigyn relays into the sedated Natasha's mind as she cradles the redhead in her arms. They then rise upwards into the stormy sky overhead. Sigyn's skin illuminates and flames flicker from her yet do not disturb the unconscious Black Widow, only surround and protect her. They then vanish in a flash of orange flame and golden light.
"You bring that woman here! To Asgard!" Loki all but shouts too loudly as he watches his lovely wife place the unconscious Black Widow upon one of his couches in the receiving area of his chambers. He cannot stand to see the inferior Mortal woman who bested him at deceit here in his private rooms. It is an insult… and Sigyn has done this just to spite him. He is sure of it. She was still able to hear his thoughts back then… and the thoughts he had were cruel and lustful in equal measure towards the beautiful, intelligent, and deadly Agent Romanoff.
"She is one of Thor's new shield companions. I could not allow her to fall into the hands of their enemies." Sigyn says as she makes sure Natasha is situated comfortably before standing up to face her disgruntled husband. "Besides… you gave me permission to aid Thor and his Midgardian friends because of this growing threat on Midgard… need I remind you, Husband?" Sigyn then says and her gaze narrows upon Loki. She is nearly nose to nose with him though she looks up to do so. His jaw clenches and his fists ball up tightly at his side. He wants to strike her… but he can't bring himself to do it. Besides that even without the use of her eldritch powers she would still best him. Every sparring session taught him that. He huffs out a long-suffering sigh which sounds more like a snarl.
"As soon as she awakens… return her to Midgard." Loki says ending with a sneer then turns on his heel. He walks away briskly to his bar area and pours himself a deep goblet of Poet's Mead. He gulps it down as he watches his wife attend to the Mortal agent. Her touches are gentle and caring. Loki raises his left eyebrow in contemplation as an idea strikes him… There is mischief to be made with this. Perhaps it isn't a bad thing to have Agent Romanoff stick around for awhile at least.
Of course, he can't reveal himself to her. That would give the game away too soon, but having his wife interact with her could prove very beneficial. He could get information from the redheaded Agent through friendly conversation… and should anything more …intimate… occur, well wouldn't that be a sight to see. Loki smiles wickedly as he finishes his goblet off and sits it down upon his bar counter.
"On second thought…" Loki says a touch flippantly as he slowly stalks towards his wife. Sigyn looks up at him curiously with a raised left brow. "She can stay until she has fully recovered her health. Show her around. Be a friend. She could be the Midgardian Representative on the Council of the Realms United even."
"That's a possibility." Sigyn says thoughtfully as she spares a glance to the slumbering woman. "But she will have to make that decision for herself… so we shall see, Husband." She adds as her deep green eyes return to Loki once more with a sad warning. Loki just smiles and gives his innocent look to his wife knowing that she knows his coming scheme… He wonders how this will all play out. Of course though… it all hinges on what Agent Romanoff decides to do or don't. Simple Chaos at its finest.
A few hours pass and the Blackbird hovers over the Xavier Institute. The ball court opens up and the secret jet goes into the underground hanger. Everyone files off.
"So this is the soldier I've heard so much about…" Charles Xavier says as he glides over in his hover chair with Iceman dressed in his uniform with sky blue accents and silver trim. Charles studies the Winter Soldier carefully. He brushes across the mind and finds it eerily smooth and calm. This is nothing like what Charles had sensed before through Cerebra. 'He hasn't been awake long.' Charles says telepathically to Steve who nods his head. Charles' eyes then return to the shackled man with a metal arm. "You must be hungry. I'll have some food brought down to you, but first we must have a friendly chat… or at least I hope it will be. If you would follow me please." Xavier says cordially with his usual fatherly smile then hr turns and starts gliding across the hanger floor.
"Let's go, bub." Wolverine says gruffly but doesn't push. The Winter Soldier just slowly fixes him with an askance look then starts freely walking ahead following Xavier. "What?" Wolverine says as he and Cyclops exchange a look. Cyclops just shakes his head and moves towards Jean as she walks off in another direction. Wolverine follows their new guest.
Charles leads the way down the maze of white sterile halls lit by florescent lights along the edges. They find themselves turning into what looks like an office. The walls are white with cherry wood paneling to the lower half. Besides the desk and the fixed chair before it… the office is bare… or at least it seems that way to the Winter Soldier. Charles does not need to give this dangerous individual any ideas so he is actively blanking out certain visual information as it reaches the captured super assassin's brain. He can hear the whispered approval in the Assassin's mind at this 'interrogation room' as the man looks around.
"Please, sit, make yourself comfortable." Charles says with a friendly smile and a gesture as he glides around behind the desk. The Winter Soldier looks back over his shoulder at Wolverine who has his claws out and a growl on his lips just daring for him to try something, anything hostile. The Assassin calmly turns back around and looks between the serene Charles and the cool and collected spiky blonde boy in a similar black leather and color accented uniform only this kid's top looks like a knee-length trenchcoat. He then slowly takes the only seat in the room.
"Now tell me… what is your oldest memory?" Charles asks curiously as he rests his elbows on the desktop and leans forward while weaving his fingers together as he eyes the Winter Soldier. Their guest is quiet. His blue eyes darting rapidly at first then his head slowly shakes from side to side.
"No memories." The Winter Soldier says in a near-whisper. Charles knows that is a lie as he watches the discordant flood of flashes. It is hard to make sense of any of it at first.
"None? Or too many?" Charles then asks as he actively slows the memory flood into a more controlled stream.
"Too many." The Winter Soldier says and shakes his head trying to clear it all. Charles has opened the floodgate to Bucky's memories by simply asking a question and since the tortured man's mind wants to normalize it tries to snap back together. Charles also knows that the weight of those memories nearly crushed Bucky before… but that isn't going to happen again now that he is in the charge of Professor X.
"I can help you… but only if you let me." Charles says calmly to the Winter Soldier who snaps out of the vicious cycle in his mind for a moment.
"Then kill me now… before I kill everyone here." He answers with pleading eyes and a pained expression.
"You see that man behind you." Charles says and looks to Logan then his eyes return to Bucky who looks over his shoulder. Logan has retracted his claws and is now leaning against the closed door with his arms crossed. He still gives a sharp daring glare with fierce hazel eyes that promise a time of savage frenzy to come. "He too was once lost. His past was a mystery to him. His memories had been… disconnected… as well and he has done some unsavory things in his time too.
"He is known and feared as The Wolverine… thought of as an animal, wild and untamable. He has moved past all that now. He may never be the man he once was, but I and others have shown him the man he truly is right now." Charles says to the Winter Soldier. "So the choice is yours… I will give you twenty-four hours to think on this then I will hear your answer." Charles then sits back for a moment… as the silence stretches between them… Charles moves his hover chair back then starts to glide around his desk. The Winter Soldier then puts his leg out to halt the bald man by blocking his path. Wolverine tenses and steps forward with claws out while Iceman ices-up, but Bucky's cool eyes are for Charles alone.
"If you value your life and the lives of everyone at this location… then kill me now and be done with it." The Winter Soldier pleads once more as the ice in his eyes melts and for the first time since stepping off the Blackbird, he shows and feels genuine emotion.
"What of the value of your own life?" Charles then asks in his kind yet sad tone. The confused Assassin lowers his gaze and his leg. "Look past all your missions, go deeper into your past… then you will see the worth of your life, James Barnes." Charles adds with a fatherly smile then glides towards Wolverine.
"Logan, if you and Iceman would be so kind as to show our guest to a secure room for his safety until my next visit. Food will be brought down shortly. I'll have Shadowcat take it to him." Charles says then leaves the room.
"Alright, bub… time to move it." Logan huffs out and grabs their guest by his upper right arm. Iceman stands close-by still in his ice form watching. Soon the trio head down the hall and make a few turns until they reach a room that is bare save for a simple bed and a small table to serve as a nightstand.
"I don't think this room has ever been used." Iceman says as Logan takes the Winter Soldier inside and undoes his shackles. The Assassin rolls his arms as Wolverine steps out and the door closes behind him. Now he is alone with nothing more than four walls and his thoughts.
Later that evening…
Steve and Natasha are asleep in Steve's bed in his and Sam's apartment on campus. He shifts so he can nuzzle her hair. The redhead's eyes snap open as she feels the super soldier's body relax deeper into slumber. She slowly slips her hidden secret from inside her pillowcase. The red silk slip she is wearing helps her movements glide smoothly in his embrace as she brings the smartphone with relaxed and steady breathes. She presses a button on the side and the screen comes on revealing a black screen and a digital keyboard. Her right thumb swipes over the keys forming words in her txt window.
I'm in. Both assets remain close.
Excellent. If a parting occurs… stick with the key.
Understood.
The false Natasha then presses the button and the screen goes dead. She shifts smoothly under Steve's arm, which is looped over her waist, to tuck her secret phone quickly between the mattress and box spring at the head board. She manages to get between the two before he stirs to wakefulness, she turns and nuzzles into his muscled chest. Steve mumbles something about nightmares but Yelena ignores his words and tells the super soldier not to worry with his girlfriend's voice. She lets her hands slide over his torso in slow strokes until his steady breathing quickens.
Yelena can't help but smile… unlike Natalia, whose mind had to constantly be wiped and memories rewritten, she recalls everything… every kill, every seduction, every mission. She never had to be controlled or restrained because she did her work willingly, enthusiastically… and she recalls the deep cover mission she underwent for the Soviets back during World War II in which she infiltrated the US Military's S.S.R. unit as certain Ms. Private Lorraine. She's had an eye for the good Captain ever since viewing his war films.
She would clue the Soviets onto the movements of Captain America and his Howling Commandos. They'd then run in and infiltrate the clean-up crew or send their redheaded Black Widow in on a solo-retrieval if need be. Natalia was always the better fighter… but Yelena was the better infiltrator.
Yelena even got close enough to kiss him once… certainly long before Natalia got her hooks into him. As far as she is concerned, Captain Rogers was hers first… and she doesn't plan on letting go anytime soon now that she has had the full service. This has quickly risen to become her all-time favorite mission ever undertaken. She wants to enjoy herself while she can, so she wakes him up for another round by sliding her hand lower.
The next morning…
Steve awakens to find the bed empty. Odd… he's usually the first one up. He sits up in bed and looks around as he becomes more aware. He then moves from the bed and heads towards his personal bathroom. That is where he finds Natasha… standing before the sink mirror brushing her red hair. She is dressed and ready for the day.
"Good Morning. Did my girl sleep well? 'Cause neither of us didn't seem to get much sleep last night." Steve says and chuckles as he wraps his arms around her slender waist from behind to draw her flush against him. He pecks a sweet kiss to her cheek. She tilts her face away exposing the column of her neck to his lips.
"It was the best I've slept in quite awhile." Natasha replies with a smile as she squirms in his arms to try and entice him into a repeat of the previous night, but his hands control her movements.
"I have to teach my art class today and I only have time for a military shower and dressing myself before I head out the door." Steve says with a sad smile as he looks at her reflection. She frowns as she turns to look at him directly over her shoulder.
"Rain Check for after class?" Steve asks as he smiles at her.
"After class." She agrees and claims his mouth.
"Class first. You should come… and be sure to wear a black slip." Steve says as he breaks away to start dressing in sweat pants and a shirt before grabbing his 'teacher outfit' of jeans, a pale blue and white checkered dress shirt, and his jacket from beside the door before he leaves for the showers.
Yelena smirks at this proposal. She has on such a slip already… can't let the good Captain see too much skin. Her and Natalia have a few similar scars from their shared experience in the Red Room Program… like lash marks on their backs and the scars from where their tubes were tied-off and cauterized before they were given the serum. That seems so long ago, but the serum slowed their growth as well help them heal faster, move quicker, and hit harder.
The false Natasha chuckles the thoughts away and starts thinking along the lines of what next to do in this infiltration… Get in. Get close. Observe. If not in a favorable position… Move to favorable position. Continue to Observe or carry out planned mission.
In Yelena's case… her mission is to stay where the scepter is, so she will observe and gather intel on these X-Men… there isn't much on them in anyone's archives… not even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s or Hydra's. Form what she has seen so far, she can already imagine the potential of a school like this… definitely something for future consideration. She finishes making sure her mask is in place then heads out the bedroom door. Time to play her part…
A/N: Thanks for reading this short story which is a crossroads of my multi-leveled 'Heroes and Villains' arc. There is also some hinting at things to come. I hope this was an enjoyable read and leaves you with questions and interest… it was fun to write this Short and this Never-ending Story of mine continues onward in… my X-Men focused fic Speak of the Devil, the next installment of my Loki Triumphant series Realms United, my Avengers focused fic Age of Ultron, and my Spider-Man fic Tangled Webs.
Reviews are welcomed… lets me know if I'm doing a good job or not :)