Rose stood in front of the mirror, checking herself over. For once, she didn't think she looked too shabby in her outfit. Due to Aaron's insistence, she washed out the highlights just for tonight, and her hair was wavy and had a fullness to it. The dress Natasha helped her pick was a perfect fit, the purple and black lace dress not showing off too much while at the same time, hugging her curves and keeping her interesting. Her pale skin didn't look as bad as she usually thought it did, standing out in contrast to her black hair and dark lipstick, both drawing attention to her face. Her black high heel platform sandals made her look taller than she actually was, which she loved. Though originally 5' 7", she enjoyed being taller because it drove Aaron insane when she was nearly his height, him enjoying being the taller one in their relationship at 6' 3". The black choker she had and the silver nail polish completed the look, the silver being something to contrast with the other colors beside her skin tone.
Rose sighed and brushed her skirt for a moment before getting out her room, and walking over to the elevator, her heels clicking on the tiled floor. She pushed the button to the eighteenth floor, and waited. Once she stepped out onto the floor, she plugged her iPod into the large MP3 player. Despite her gothic style, Tony thought she had good taste in music. She stopped by the bar to make sure Tony hadn't eaten all the snacks and drinks yet (he had a habit of doing that, and the last two times, Rose had to stop him by using her powers to levitate them far above his reach until he stopped trying to get them so there'd be some left for the guests), and then went to make sure all the lights were working (the last time they didn't work, Tony asked her for help to fix them). As far as she could tell everything was working fine.
As Rose waited around for the party guests to trickle in, she noticed Natasha came down from her room to wait with her. Nat was making drinks if Rose remembered correctly. She was dressed in a black and white dress that was adorable in Rose's opinion. "Look at you! Poor Brucey is gonna be tripping over his own feet when he sees you," Rose teased, nudging her fellow assassin, grinning when she saw her blush.
"Oh, stop it," laughed Natasha, smacking Rose playfully on the shoulder.
"What, it's true!" Rose exclaimed. Nat rolled her eyes with a smile. Rose waited patiently for the other guests to come in, eyes widening in surprise when she saw Aaron walking in with a blue long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, combat boots, and black driver gloves. "I don't remember seeing you on the guest list," she smiled, coming over to introduce him to Natasha.
"Thought I'd crash," he shrugged. He looked Rose over, analyzing her outfit. "Would you look at yourself? I bet boys will be walking into walls because they can't take their eyes off you. And I'll be standing there, ready to call the ambulance when one decides to flirt with you."
Rose snorted. "I sent a guy to the emergency room once, and that was because he was a little handsy."
"Uh-huh," he said cynically. His gaze landed on Natasha, and he let out a loud whistle. He walked past Rose to her, and leaned on the wall as he gave her his signature smirk. "Well, hello, hot stuff. I don't think we've been properly introduced. Name's Aaron Barnes, and you are?"
"Natasha Romanoff," she replied, one corner of her mouth lifting in amusement. Aaron took her hand in his, and kissed it. Rose lifted an eyebrow at the act. Smooth, you sly dog, she thought.
"Nice to meet you, Natasha Romanoff," he grinned.
"Oh, stop it, please," said Rose, burying her face in her hands. "If you're gonna flirt, at least have the decency to do it outside."
"I'm just saying hello," an annoyed Aaron retorted defensively.
"With you, that's flirting," snorted Rose.
Natasha waved her off with a smirk. "I don't mind."
"Sure, you don't, he has that effect on 'the ladies,'" shrugged Rose, giving a devious smirk. Thor came into the room next as Aaron and Natasha chatted a bit. Then Steve, who looked slightly uncomfortable at the party since he hadn't been to any outside the 1940s. When Bruce walked in, Rose was glad to see her prediction was correct. He looked like he'd just seen the sun for the first time. Rose whispered in Natasha's ear, "What did I tell you?" before grabbing Aaron by the collar to drag him with her so the scientist and the assassin could talk. She walked over to Clint and Tony who just walked in, and poked Clint on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Hey, I'm trying to distract the flirt here so he doesn't ruin the spark between Bruce and Nat, and have her falling for him instead, help me," she said bluntly, pulling Aaron next to her.
"Wow, you do know she's older than you, right?" Clint chuckled.
"I don't care, she's hot," shrugged Aaron in amusement.
"Well, would you look at that, a mini you," Clint commented to Tony. Tony looked to Aaron, then did a double take when he noticed Rose's outfit, and whistled.
"You look like your phone number should be written on the bathroom wall," he commented. Rose twirled about to show off her new dress, smirking at his reaction. "I thought you didn't know how to dress like a girl!" That earned him a glare and a smack on the shoulder. With that, Rose turned to greet the other guests and Avengers.
"You look beautiful tonight, Lady Rose!" Thor complimented loudly, earning a few looks from the others around him. "It is no wonder that many of the men will not stop staring." Rose flashed him a smirk and raised an eyebrow, placing a finger to her lips. She loved how Thor's comments were so blunt, but he always said them so loudly.
"Quiet down, Blondie, I think they heard you over in China," she joked. "But thanks. Not too shabby yourself." Thor nodded in understanding, grinning sheepishly. Rose gave him a pat on the back before noticing Nat and Bruce weren't talking anymore, and that Aaron was taking a break from flirting with every other girl at the party and asking for their phone number to seize the opportunity. She rolled her eyes, and went over to the bar where the two were.
"Could I get a margarita?" he asked, flashing Natasha a smile. She returned the favor, and started making the alcoholic beverage.
"Make that two," Rose said, sitting down beside Aaron. "So what were you and Green Boy talking about?" she asked with a devious smirk.
"Don't call him that," chastised Natasha lightly. "He was just complimenting my dress. And could you say it a little louder? I don't think the people in China heard you."
"Oh, come on, Red, even I have to admit it's obvious he's into you," Aaron agreed. "Are you two going to be a thing anytime soon, because if not, I'm free at eleven tomorrow."
"I'm working on it," smirked Natasha. "And nice to see you can squeeze me in with all the other girls you've got in your schedule."
"Anything for you, Tasha. What can I say? I like the color red," he shot back. Not even bothering to deny it, thought Rose as she shook her head. Once again, smooth.
"We're not getting any younger, here, Nat!" Rose exclaimed impatiently.
"Quiet, you," she warned. "If either of you try to play matchmaker, I will make sure neither of you get champagne for a year." Aaron's eyes widened in disbelief, while both Rose's eyebrows rose and disappeared beneath her hairline. She wouldn't..."Try me," Natasha challenged.
"Yes, ma'am!" Aaron replied quickly, holding up his hands in surrender, and nodding obediently.
"Good. So while Mr. Player here has been picking up girls, anyone catch your eye, Rose?" Natasha questioned. Rose looked at her incredulously.
"Yeah, anyone you're planning on hooking up with?" Aaron grinned, earning a slap on the shoulder from his best friend and a soft giggle from Natasha.
"I've told you, Nat, and I've told you, mister, multiple times, that dating is a no," Rose told them both, folding her arms across her chest.
Aaron fixed her with a confused look as Nat handed them their drinks. "Why? I mean, we both have an excuse for being mistrustful of people, but you don't see that stopping me from playing 'How many phone numbers can I get in one hour' with Dad, do you?" he asked. He looked over to a nearby table where Bucky was chatting with Sam and Steve. Once Bucky noticed Aaron's gaze, he waved a piece of paper with numbers written on it up in the air with a smug look on his face. Aaron whirled around back to both women, and took a long, furious sip of his drink. "Seriously, how is he beating me at this?! I've only got six while he's got ten, and he's got the social skills of Rose!"
"Well, I hear he was quite the charmer back in the 40s," grinned Natasha. "And he's right, Rose. Not all people are as bad as...you know, them." Rose glared at her as she took a long sip of her margarita, the image of a black octopus in a red background being seared into her mind after Natasha mentioned it just like the symbol had been seared into her skin when she was twelve. "You should at least go on a few dates, Rosie. Not all people are horrible. And it's been a while. Please, I'd be happy if you walked in here with a boy on your arm at least once. You have to start mixing it up."
A frown formed on Rose's lips and she shook her head. At her reaction, Nat knew she'd accidently hit a nerve. "I'll die first," she snapped. "Dating is a waste of time. And it's not like anyone here would want to date me anyway, so what's the point?" Unpleasant memories came back to surface that she had spent the rest of the week since the H.Y.D.R.A. raid getting rid of. "It's like you said a while ago, love is for children. And I don't even remember what love feels like, so I really want nothing to do with it."
"Sorry, Rose, it's just...Trust me, no one knows better than I do that something like that is a hard thing to get over," Nat attempted, trying to fix her blunder. Even Aaron had gone quiet at his best friend's words. It was true, what did either of the teens knew about love, especially if they could barely even remember a thing about being loved? "I just think a boy might help you out a bit, that's all."
"I'm perfectly fine with just Aaron. I don't need another boy's help," Rose shrugged, playing with her drink, violet energy encasing it and moving it around on the counter in circles. "I'm still rooting for you and Bruce, but for me..." She trailed off, and laughed at the thought of her falling in love anytime soon. "It's a bit pathetic in my opinion. It's annoying and not very appealing, I mean to commit yourself to that person. Aaron hasn't been in an actual serious relationship since Jasmine because it was getting in the way of what he does for a living." From his seat, the mentioned lifted his drink and nodded in agreement. "We're too busy with our work life. We can never keep work at work, it always follows us home. What am I supposed to say if he wants me to come over? 'Sorry, hon, can't. I'm trying to take out all these guards to recover a Norse god's scepter. Dinner's in the fridge. xoxo.'? Nuh-uh, not happening. Dating is ridiculous and useless. Love itself is a weakness."
"Amen," agreed Aaron. The two both raised their glasses at the same time, and clinked them against each other before going back to drinking it, and finished their margaritas in one gulp.
"Huh, how inspirational," commented Natasha dryly. "I can't wait until the day you both fall in love, and find out you're wrong. Until then, I'll be waiting...and praying."
"Hey!" Rose exclaimed, all previous anger released but not forgotten.
"It's true," grinned Nat. "You don't have to date if you don't want to, but I'd like it to happen before we all die of old age."
"I'm not dating anyone, anytime," finalized Rose. "But I wish you all the luck in the world with Bruce."
"Ditto," her best friend smiled. "See you around, Red. Although, um, maybe you could both help me out by making my total of phone numbers eight?" With a simultaneous roll of their eyes, both women got out a pen and wrote down their phone numbers on one napkin, Natasha's on the top and Rose's on the bottom. Aaron smirked triumphantly, took it, and turned to where he could see Bucky again, raising the paper above his head for him to see. "Two for one, beat that!" he taunted loudly with a smug look, receiving a dirty look from Bucky in return, to which he responded by sticking out his tongue. He turned back to the girls with a surprisingly straight face. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a game to win."
"Good luck," giggled Nat as he left.
"That boy will be the death of me," Rose groaned, burying her face. "And speaking of boys..." She trailed off, noticing the adorably dorky Bruce shyly coming over to the bar. "I'll give you guys your space."
Walking off, Rose took a moment to hide in the elevator to pull herself together. She didn't know why even the simplest mention of H.Y.D.R.A could set her off, sometimes. It was a recurring nightmare she could never escape no matter how hard she tried, and she hated being as vulnerable as she was. No tears came to her eyes, though. Rose couldn't cry anymore, she no longer had the ability to cry, which is why that one moment she did irked her so much. Thanks to that flashback the enhanced gave her back at the H.Y.D.R.A base, she could remember when she learned that lesson as if it happened yesterday.
"Harder! Or I'll break your arm next!" the Winter Soldier growled at her as eleven-year-old Rose laid on the floor, in pain from when the soldier just broke her ribs from punching her so hard in the stomach. Another training session, where she'd have to fight him, but after getting to know him, she had begun to pull her punches. She knew this was a test, to see if she would let that affect her performance...and she was failing. They were looking for an excuse to hurt her, an excuse to beat her. They all knew she could easily win this battle if she would stop holding back.
She refused to use her powers against him, knowing that if she thought it, it would happen. All she had to do was think it, and it'd happen, and she wouldn't even have to twitch a muscle. Oh, how she hated it. She could never lose her temper or anything like that because of the experiment they conducted on her a month ago. She might even be able to level the entire building if she got in the wrong mood. So she held back. It was an unfair advantage, and she couldn't bring herself to do that to her friend.
No, I can't fail, Rose thought to herself. I have to get back up, I've got to fight.
The tears began to fall down her face as she struggled to get up, the pain beginning to get to her. Pain was a sensation she still hadn't learn to shut off, though she was supposed to. She cried out, and fell down again, the tears coming much faster. She wanted to go home, to go back to her mother, to see her friends again.
"Don't cry," the Winter Soldier warned. Rose raised her head to look at him. "Don't cry or they'll hurt you."
"But you're hurting me!" cried Rose, backing away until her back hit the wall when he tried to approach her. "Just leave me alone! I want to go home!"
"You can't," he hissed, his voice urgent. "Quick, get up and pretend you're fine and hit me. Before they come." Growing up, Rose learned to understand that they were everyone at H.Y.D.R.A who wouldn't hesitate to put them back in their places if they stepped a toe out of line. To them, people like her, Aaron, and the Winter Soldier were nothing but animals.
Rose struggled to stand up, her face tear-streaked. When she finally got back up, she placed herself in a fighting stance, and punched the soldier in the face before he even saw it coming. Too late, though. That didn't mean they didn't see the moment of weakness.
The next week was spent trying to get rid of that weakness. They said it was to make her strong, that crying would only make her weak. And eventually, she began to believe them. Whatever happened then, she never told anyone exactly what, but it worked, and when she was finally released from her week of torture, in her next training session, she was practically unrecognizable to the Winter Soldier.
Rose's face remained impassive, now even her eyes void of any emotion. Before, while she had learned to keep all emotion off her face, her blue-green eyes were one thing that couldn't hold back what she was feeling. They had used to change color to match her emotions, lighting up when she was happy, darkening when she was mad, but always with that spark that held life in them. Now there was...nothing. By that time, if Aaron wasn't with her, she truly felt like she couldn't feel anything anymore.
Rose got into a fighting stance. After a few minutes of her barely tapping him, the Winter Soldier punched her hard in the stomach, dropping her to her knees. Anger flashed through her eyes for a second, and a malevolent smirk appeared on her face. She had lowered his defenses just the slightest by pretending to still be holding back, and that was all she needed. She flipped back up to her feet, and kicked him in the jaw with the heel of her boot, then dropped quickly and swiped his legs out from under him with her own. He stumbled back a few steps, and tilted his head at her in abject pride before squaring his shoulders and advancing on her.
He threw a metal fist at her face to which she dodged, ducking down before kicking her legs up, and wrapping them around his neck, locking the metal arm to her chest with both hands. She threw her full weight at him, causing him to stumble again. While he was off balance, Rose pulled back, and flipped him over, pinning him to the ground and dislocating the elbow of his metal arm. An impressive move for an eleven-year-old girl. He had taught her well.
His arm whirred and grinded before the joint finally clicked back in place. He threw his elbow into her stomach, and reached up to grab her throat when Rose grabbed the knife she'd snatched from a nearby guard on her way in, and held it close to his throat. He stopped cold, and knew he'd lost since in one swift movement Rose could easily slit his throat. "Try me, I will do it," she challenged darkly.
Since then, she hadn't cried until all her worst memories had been brought back. Defeating the Winter Soldier had made her believe in herself more, and made her try harder to be better. At the age of twelve, knives were her specialty, and anyone in the base, she could beat in record time. That was why she'd tried to escape with Aaron that day. They hadn't made it thirty miles before being caught again, and they were punished yet again.
In the elevator, as she was brought out of her memories, she looked down at the underside of her left arm. Glaring out at her was a black octopus in a red background, the symbol of H.Y.D.R.A that they had branded into her skin. It was a lesson, to remind her who was always in charge, who was in control, and that no matter how far they ran, they wouldn't be able to run from them. That was another thing that stuck. Though many years had passed since then, the memories and pain were still fresh in her mind, and could never be erased, just like the symbol on her arm.
Finally, she shook herself out of it, and decided to go back out into the party. She walked into the room, and leaned onto the couch where she caught Sam, Bucky. "So, boys, ready for a challenge?" she teased. "A challenge of pool, that is. We all know I'd beat you guys up if you were to actually challenge me, remember, Buck?"
"Once, she beat me once when she was eleven, and she will never let it go," he sighed.
"An eleven-year-old beat you up?" asked Sam incredulously. "Forget her, I'm never going to let it go. The great Winter Soldier, beaten by a little girl."
"On second thought, let's play. I'd like to beat you at something again for once," Bucky challenged.
"You're on."
The trio played against each other, the first time being Bucky against Rose, and then Rose against Sam. The first time, Rose won and now Bucky was sulking on the couch. The second time, Sam had been determined to win, but she was way more competitive than him, and refused to accept defeat. At the last moment, she got an insanely good hit and won again, leaving both boys sulking. Rose blew them both a kiss, and laughed it off. "What, can't accept that you just lost to 'a little girl?'" she taunted before flipping her hair over her shoulder flauntingly, and going over to Steve and Thor.
"Hey," she chirped, surprising both to her presence. "Anything up?"
"Nothing much," shrugged Steve. "Thor here is just bragging about Asgard." Rose snorted, and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah," she challenged. "Tahiti Beach, Maui. The Bahamas. Beat that." Thor merely laughed and pulled out a flask.
"I gotta have some of that stuff," said an old man beside them. Rose nodded in agreement, her curiosity getting the best of her.
"Oh, no, no, no," Thor protested with a smug smile. "See, this was aged for a thousand years, in the barrels built from the wreck of Brunhilde's feet. It is not meant for mortal men." He poured a shot for himself and Steve, and after getting a hard look from her, handed one to Rose.
"I'm neither completely mortal, nor man so it's fine for me," she smirked, gloating a bit by shaking it, the contents swishing inside. "It's still not meant for mortal men, though. Oh, what a shame."
"Neither was Omaha Beach, Girlie. Stop trying to scare us." Rose choked back a laugh, and gestured for Thor to oblige. "C'mon, Blondie."
Thor smirked as he poured the old man a shot. "Alright." The man drinks, keeping eye contact. Five seconds later, he's passed out on the table. A chuckle left Rose's throat as she shook her head. They both did tell him.
After that, Rose stuck around a bit more, chatting with the boys, and Natasha a bit before hanging out with Aaron, pulling him away from flirting with a blond, who until Rose came along, had been locking lips with him. Aaron seemed to be enjoying it so he was in a foul mood for the next five minutes before moving onto the pretty brunette that passed him by, and invited her to sit with him and Rose. Surprisingly, Rose enjoyed getting to know her, and actually felt sorry for when she realized Aaron was only playing her because of her looks and that after she was out of the picture for a few minutes, he'd move onto the next ditzy girl who fell for his charms.
By the time most of the guests had gone home, the gang gathered around a small coffee table. Aaron had introduced himself to Maria Hill the same way he introduced himself to all women he liked to flirt with.
"Name's Aaron Barnes, and you are?" he asked, shaking her hand.
"Maria Hill," she smiled. He kissed her hand with that signature grin of his.
"Nice to meet you, Maria Hill," he smirked.
Rose buried her head in her hands as she sat down on the couch by Steve. "Please, stop."
"Can't I say hi to anyone?" Aaron demanded defensively.
Maria looked to her with a shrug. "I honestly don't mind."
"Of course you don't," she mumbled. As the night wore on, her eyebrows arched once Thor started bragging about him being "worthy" and whatever. Rose didn't buy it one bit. If anything, that only made her want to wipe that arrogant smirk off his face.
"So, 'Whoever he be worthy should haveth the power-'" Aaron said in a deep voice imitating a British accent, beating Rose saying it by one second. "What ever, man!" he exclaimed. At this point, almost everyone was drunk except for the two super soldiers in the room being Bucky, and Steve. Even Rose herself had one too many glasses of Thor's Asgardian ale, which was the only thing that could get her the slightest bit drunk, and she was kinda enjoying it.
"It's rigged!" she said loudly. "That's the only explanation!
"Yeah, it's a trick!" agreed Clint.
Thor only chuckled. "Well, please, be my guest!" he offered with an arrogant grin, gesturing to the hammer sitting on the table. Clint hesitated for a moment, then laughed and got up from the couch.
"Clint, you've had a rough week, and none of us will hold it against you if you can't get it up," Rose said dismissively. He just shot her a playful glare, and she patted him on the back.
"You know I've seen this before, right?" said Clint as he grasped the handle of Mjolnir. Once he had a firm grip, he pulled. Nothing happened. It didn't budge an inch. He looked at it annoyed, and added his other hand. Still nothing. Aaron barked a laugh, and started applauded him.
"Don't worry, Hawkeye. You're still a winner in our hearts," he said, wiping away an imaginary tear. The archer glared in his direction and rolled his eyes.
"Well, please, Barnes, by all means," he shot back, stepping away. Aaron tried to keep a bored expression on his face, but gave up halfway in, and grinned widely. After a moment's contemplation, he jumped up from the couch over to the hammer. With a smug look on his face, he slowly curled his fingers around the handle, and added his other hand. He took a deep breath, and pulled. It doesn't move. Not an inch. Letting out a huff of frustration, he placed his foot on the table, and used it to help pull. Still nothing.
"Oh, come on!" he exclaimed, giving the hammer a kick before returning to his seat, his pride bruised. Rose patted him on the back sympathetically.
Tony laughed. "Do you smell the silent judgement?"
Aaron's eyes flashed angrily, and he almost got up if Rose hadn't put out a hand to stop him. "Then you know what? Why don't you try?" she asked, pointing a silver fingernail at him. Tony huffed, and walked confidently over to the hammer. The people on the couch begin muttering.
"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge," he said smugly. Rose couldn't keep the smirk off her face. "So, if I lift this, I get to rule Asgard."
"Yes, yes, of course," Thor replied, not even trying to hide the grin on his face. Steve was covering his mouth next to Rose, struggling not to laugh.
"If he lifts it then all of Asgard is doomed," chuckled Rose, earning a playful glare from Tony and a snort from Aaron. Tony put his hand through the leather strap.
"I will be fair but firmly cruel," he remarked arrogantly. "And I will be reinstituting Prima Nocta." Then he pulled. Nothing. Rose's smirk grew wider as Tony turned around, and walked away from the table. "I will be right back." When he does come back, he has on his Iron thruster. But still nothing when he pulls the hammer. Rhodey came up beside him, added on his hand, and started helping.
"Are you even pulling?" he asked Tony.
"Wait, are you even on my team?" he shot back.
"Just represent, pull!" Rhodey instructed. When their combined strength couldn't lift the hammer, Bruce went up to try. Not being able to get it up, he pretended to hulk out as a joker, flailing his arms and pretending to roar.
No one found it too funny, and Rose arched a pierce eyebrow at Bruce before shouting, "Next!"
"I bet Steve's worthy," announced Bucky from his seat, pushing his best friend out of his chair towards Mjolnir. After giving him a dirty look, Steve grabbed the handle, and pulled. It budged an inch on the table, and everyone held their breath. Rose smirked and stuck out her tongue out at Thor, whose expression was priceless at seeing Steve almost being able to lift the hammer. But then Steve couldn't move it any further, and sat back down next to his daughter.
"Oh, come on," she groaned, burying her face in her hands as she saw Thor's smug look come back. Thor then started laughing. His confidence was beginning to get to her, and she thought of how much she wanted to strangle him right now.
"Widow?" Steve asked. Natasha shook her head, rolling her eyes with a smirk.
"Oh no, that's a question I don't need answered," she replied with a laugh.
"What about you two?" Aaron asked, his gaze landing on his best friend and his father. Rose and Bucky looked at each other for a moment as if contemplating it, and bursted out laughing.
"You think that...Us? Worthy?" Rose said in between laughs. The thought itself was hilarious. They had both done so many things, that them being worthy to hold Mjolnir was highly unlikely.
"Nice one," Bucky agreed, stiffling his laughter. Rose was laughing so hard, she would've fallen over had Steve not been there. Okay, maybe she was more than a little tipsy.
Steve took her glass away from her, and held it away from her, but Rose was too busy laughing to noticed. "I think that's enough ale for you."
"All the difference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged!" Aaron exclaimed flippantly.
"You bet your ass," Clint agreed.
"Steve, he just said a bad word," taunted Maria. Steve sighed.
"How many people did you guys tell about that?" he asked, the question directed at Tony, Rose, and Aaron. Between the three of them, probably everyone in New York knew by now. Regaining her seriousness, Rose shrugged, faking innocence.
"The handle's imprinted," said Tony arrogantly. "It's a security code. Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints, I think is the literal translation."
"Yes, well, that's, uh...Well, that's a very, very...interesting theory. I have a simpler one." With a grin, he picks up Mjolnir, and flipped it in his hand. "You're all not worthy."
Rose groaned and rolled her eyes as did everyone else. "No one likes a showoff." But just then, a loud screeching noise was heard. She grimaced at the sound, and Aaron whimpered, covering his ears, trying to block out the sound if only for a bit. Everyone stood up, and looked to the wall. What Rose saw shocked her. A robot, mutilated and sparking, stood there, wires hanging down from its arms.
"No..." it said in a low, robotic voice. Except, it didn't sound completely robotic or monotonous like other robots. In fact, it almost sounded...human. "How could any of you be worthy? You're all killers." It picked up the head, and crushed it in its hand while Rose stared, eyes wide, the most expression she ever allowed herself to show in front of the enemy, for that's what it seemed this robot might be. Could this be...Ultron? No, it couldn't be, not after Tony said the program failed...
"Tony," Rose hissed, anger evident in her voice. If this was his fault, she was going to kick his butt so hard, he wouldn't even be able to hold a thought in his head. She told him, she told him this would've been a bad idea. Did he listen? No.
At the sound of her voice, the robot looked at her, and Steve began protectively inching closer. Once he was close enough, he pulled her slightly behind him back to shield her. The protective gesture made an unknown feeling make her feel more at ease as she breathed in his scent. His brother instinct taking over, Aaron stood beside her, a bad feeling bubbling in the pit of his stomach. And his instincts were never wrong.
"Stark," Steve said.
"Jarvis?" Tony called out lowly.
"I'm sorry, I was asleep," the robot said slowly. "Or...I was a dream."
"Jarvis, reboot. Legionaries, got a buggy suit here," Tony tried again, but nothing happened.
"There was a terrible noise...and I was tangled...in strings..." continued the robot. "I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy..." It wobbled on its mutilated, broken metal feet as it explained.
"You killed someone?" Aaron demanded, Rose looking pointedly in Tony's direction.
"Wouldn't have been my first call, but in the real world, we're faced with some ugly choices," it replied, looking from Bucky to the two teenagers standing behind Steve. Or at least she thought it was looking at them. Rose could hear Bucky's breath hitch at his words, and Aaron look down guiltily at his feet, though she felt nothing. It knew what they had all done over the years, didn't it? If it did, that was no surprise; almost everyone knew. Unlike the boys, Rose had no shame in what she did, no regret, for nothing she did would ever be able to bring back all those she killed, no "sorry" could bring them back to life or anything. But it couldn't know what happened with Aaron all those years ago, could it? It wasn't as if anyone beside her and his father knew.
"Who sent you?" Thor demanded, his voice low and threatening. Instead of an answer, a voice played out on the speakers.
"I see a suit of armor around the world," a recording of Tony's voice announced.
"Ultron," Bruce breathed. As if the words were a trigger, Rose's muscles tensed up, feeling the violet energy begin to gather at her fingertips.
"In the flesh. Or no, not this...chrysalis," answered Ultron. "But I'm ready. I'm on a mission."
"What mission?" questioned Aaron.
"Peace of our time." At his words, Aaron's hands crackled with electricity despite the gloves. Taking off his gloves, electricity ran over his hands, just as prepared as Rose to attack Ultron should he get too close for comfort to any of them. But, it wasn't him they had to worry about. Because at that moment, the wall exploded, and out came the flying Legionnaires.
Author's note: So, hey guys! Um, this is honestly the most pages I've ever done in one chapter. So, I hope you like it, and tell me what you think. I'm not sure whether or not I overdid with Rose objecting to falling in love anytime soon. What, did you think she was going to fall for Pietro like that? No, I expect it to happen after a long while, if he can tolerate her long enough that is. Anyway, party officially crashed and ruined by Ultron. Until next time!
