Landslide
"Absolutely not!"
The ship walls echoed from Hank's stern voice. Janet rolled her eyes, spinning in her chair completely bored while the rest of the team discussed the infamous upcoming date. The ship was silent for a brief moment, as Janet sighed irritatingly, seriously wanting to leave. She didn't even know why she was there; they weren't even letting her state her case or her side of the story. As soon as she began to appreciate the silence, the chaos started up once again, as Nick Fury's ship was suddenly turned into a circus. Everyone was yelling, although no one could beat Fury's booming voice.
Janet spun in her chair once more, silently wondering if she could retreat without anyone noticing. However, knowing her luck, it was probably impossible. She vaguely noticed someone sitting down in the chair next to her, but she ignored the person and continued to listen to the ranting and yelling. The agents stood and watched from afar, not knowing what to do or how to handle the situation, considering Nick was completely engrossed in the conversation. Each Avenger was pointing out the positives and negatives of Janet's current situation. Hank, obviously, was against this entire plan.
She gazed out the large windows for a brief moment and stared at the white clouds that drifted ever so slowly. She could see Strucker's ships in the distance, still hovering over the defenseless city. Something needed to be done, and she finally did something about it. Everyone else was just sitting around while twiddling their thumbs, asking everyone else what the plan of action was. She finally spoke out and did something about it.
However, at this point, she was solely embarrassed. Crawling under a rock and staying there until everything was over sounded perfect to her.
"Do you know what she'd be risking if she does this?" Hank bellowed suddenly, causing her to jump.
"She knew the risks when she took this job, Pym!" Fury replied with a growl. "It's the perfect cover!"
"She can speak for herself! She doesn't need any of you telling her what to do!" Steve barked.
"She's not in this alone, Cap. She can't do this all by herself!" Tony followed, as everyone leaned over the table to get into each other's faces.
"Tis a mindless endeavor! She should not be subjected to such drastic measures!" Thor added, clearly against the idea as well.
"She kicks serious ass! I know she can handle this! Now all of you get off your baby swings and let's take this guy down!" Clint yelled, hitting his fist on the table with force. The conversation commenced, only it sounded more like jumbled words than talking.
"This can't be happening…" Janet mumbled to herself, massaging her temples.
"This is a pointless argument!" T'Challa added his few words, although he wasn't as loud as Fury or Thor.
All her life, she figured she was given this it for a reason. Especially when Hank gave her powers, it was then she truly knew who she was. Being an Avenger was an amazing accomplishment, one that she would keep and tell future generations about. However, in this instant, she wasn't feeling like an Avenger. She was feeling more of a small asset than a teammate at the moment. Ever since the television broadcast of her, she'd been feeling a bit obsolete lately. She knew she shouldn't be listening to some overpaid anchor, but the words still stung. She figured this was her chance to change all that. And look how it was going…
No, not this time. Her fate wasn't going to be decided by the rest of the team or Nick Fury anymore. They didn't have a say in this; this was her decision, her mission, and she was going through with it. She didn't care whether they liked it or not. It was her time to be the intelligent and great Iron Man. It was her time to be the sacrificing and brave Captain America. It was her time to be the proud and noble Thor. It was her time to be the strong one.
"You guys obviously don't care whether her life is in danger or not!" Hank bellowed once more.
Tony shook his head, "We all know the real reason why you don't want her to go through with this, Hank!" Hank immediately shut his mouth, narrowing his eyes as the yelling continued.
"Shut up! All of you just shut up!" Janet screamed, standing up from her chair. The ship's room was abnormally quiet all of a sudden, as all eyes went on her. "It's my turn to talk, so all of your sit down and shut your mouths for five minutes." They slowly did what she said, as she continued to stand and glare at all of them for behaving this way. She took a big breath before continuing, "I'm going through with this, whether some of you like it or not. This isn't your decision, its mine. Strucker has been here for two weeks now, and we've got nothing. I agreed to this small dinner only with the intention that I find out something. So all of you can stop arguing over pointless matters, because I'm going through with it either way."
She sat back down forcefully, crossing her arms and glaring at the team. A few throats were cleared, as Nick Fury smiled in agreement, pleased that he got his way. Fury finally noticed that all his agents had been watching the show, "What are all of you standing around for? Get back to work!" The liveliness of the ship was suddenly restored, as everyone quickly went back to work. Clint gave Janet a smirk, nodding proudly, as he, T'Challa and Thor left the table and out of the room. Tony gestured that he wanted to speak with Hank and Steve privately, so they left the room as well. Janet sighed, overwhelmed with stress and relief at the same time.
"I was wondering how long it would take before you exploded," the individual next to her spoke finally, the one Janet ignored when they sat down. Mockingbird had her arms crossed and was sitting casually enjoying the scene that just played out.
"Hey um…Mockingbird," Janet replied, not knowing what to say.
"Bobbi," she corrected, as Janet nodded, grinning a bit.
"I thought it was Barbara?"
Bobbi grinned with her, "It is, but I didn't think it was any better than Janet." Janet giggled. She had always known who Bobbi was, obviously, but never had she conversed with her. And after all the stories from Clint, Janet knew who she was pretty well. In fact, Janet always admired her for her bravery and spunk, as well as relating to her tomboy attitude. Bobbi knew she was just as good as a man, and that's what Janet respected most.
"I'm surprised I didn't explode when they called the meeting," Janet finally replied to her first statement. "I mean seriously? What's there to discuss? I'm doing this whether they agree or not." She paused, looking at Bobbi. "What's your opinion?"
"You want me to be honest?" Bobbi asked. Janet nodded, now unsure if she would agree. "I think what you did was heroic."
"Really?" Janet asked surprised.
"Totally. I would've done the same thing."
"Of course you would," she rolled her eyes, smirking. "The infamous and mysterious Mockingbird always has a plan."
"You got that right," Bobbi smiled and nodded. "But seriously, I wanted to tell you in person. You're gonna get a lot of shit from people, but I wanted you to know that I have your back on this."
"Thanks," Janet replied, loving the new friendship she was making. Besides Carol, she really couldn't turn to another female friend. Now, it was completely different.
"Mockingbird, front and center," Fury called from across the room. Bobbi sighed, standing up from her chair.
"I didn't know you were his new assistant," Janet stated, trying not to smile.
"Hilarious," Bobbi grinned. "I kind of replaced Agent Hill's job, which is the reason why she doesn't exactly talk to me anymore. Who would've thought putting on a costume and kicking ass impressed Fury so much."
"I would have thought so," Janet pointed out.
"But trust me when I say I'm not his assistant. I wear the ridiculous costume for a reason, just like you," Bobbi reassured, making sure her title wasn't demeaned.
"I believe you," Janet smirked.
"Mockingbird!" Fury called out once more. Bobbi rolled her eyes.
"See you tomorrow for the briefing, Wasp, and be careful. I've seen many people take this undercover road too seriously and end up on the wrong side. Make sure you don't end up blasting your own team," Bobbi said, giving her a small salute as she went down the stairs toward Fury. Janet checked the clock and realized that she needed to get ready soon. She walked down the stairs and exited the sliding doors. She suddenly found herself face to face with an eager Clint.
"So?"
"So?" Janet echoed, making a confused face.
T'Challa groaned in irritation, "I've been waiting ten minutes and you can't even ask her what you've been waiting for?"
"Save it, T'Challa," Clint stopped him.
"Look, I have to leave and get ready," Janet sighed, already knowing where this was going.
"I'll walk with you then," Clint agreed, walking alongside her.
"I think you're obsessed," she droned, trying to walk faster.
"You guys are friends now huh?" he asked, ignoring the comment. "I knew the second she sat down next to you, you guys would click."
"Go ahead and ask me, Clint…"
"Did she say anything about me?"
"No," Janet said firmly, as T'Challa chuckled to himself. "What happened to the guy who was easy going and cool? That's the Hawkeye I know…"
"He fell in love," T'Challa said with a smile.
"I wouldn't call it that," Clint mumbled.
"Hmm, I don't know. She's got your wrapped around your finger, and you've only been on one mission," Janet explained.
"Actually I've known her for longer, but never really got to know her till that mission," Clint corrected. T'Challa walked ahead and got in front of him.
"Your obsessions come in stages, my friend. First it was the Black Widow and now it is Mockingbird. Your present patterns in your life," T'Challa said. "Don't let it consume you."
"I don't like it when I don't know what's going on. I hate secrets," Clint tried his best to explain.
"Clearly," T'Challa commented.
"Look, one of these days your paths will cross again. When that day comes you need to be yourself, because that's the guy she bonded with over the mission," she explained. "Until that time, stop acting like this. It doesn't suit your tough guy façade very well."
"Fine, I'll stop prying," Clint rolled his eyes, really not seeing the big deal of this crush he developed over the long months.
"I told him the exact same thing and he did not listen. I do not understand…" T'Challa expressed.
"Welcome to the land of idiocy, T'Challa. People don't listen the first time," Janet cleared, as Clint made a face. They finally made it to the hanger, but it was empty. Only Thor was there, waiting for the others. Tony, Steve and Hank were still missing. "Seriously? I don't have time for this."
"What's wrong? Getting nervous for your date? Don't worry, I think he's pretty old fashioned," Clint played, getting back at her.
"Have to make a good impression if I want to dig up some dirt," she countered, seeing another plane exiting the ship. She shrunk down to her bug size, as her wings sprouted from her back. "I'll see you guys back at the mansion." Before they could even respond, she flew quickly out of the ship before the doors could close. She zoomed through the air, quickly flying back to the mansion to prepare for her night.
Only a small stream of light came down from the ceiling and on the table below. Sitting at the table was Hank with his head buried in his hands. Steve finally sat down across from him, as he watched Tony pace back and forth behind him.
"Hank, I know you don't like what's happening, but you have to back off," Tony said softly. "You and I have known each other a long time, and right now I can tell you want to fix everything."
"We have to respect Janet's sacrifice for the team, no matter how much we disagree with it," Steve added.
"And we both know the real reason you're acting this way," Tony nodded, as Hank dropped his hands and sighed. "You're emotionally involved. I personally applaud Janet's decision, I just wish more of us could be there to help if something goes wrong."
"I…I know what she did was great," Hank agreed. "One of the reasons why I love her so much; she's so selfless. I just wish she didn't have to do it."
Tony shrugged, "She is the only female on the team, at the moment. Even if we did have other female members, I don't think it would've made a difference. It's as if Strucker chose her for a reason."
"Reason has everything to do with it," Hank nodded, making the other two look at him questioningly. "You guys didn't see the way he looked at her. His eyes were so full of hunger and desire, that I couldn't help but confront her about it as if it was her fault. I'm afraid his plans are more than just dinner, which clearly explains my hostility toward the situation."
"That is definitely…unsettling," Steve gulped, becoming nervous for her.
"We have to keep an eye on her. Ask her every single detail there is," Tony suggested.
Hank exhaled deeply, "That's the thing with Jan. She keeps a lot of important information close to the vest in order to protect other people. It's frustrating."
"As long as she's a part of this team, she has no choice," Tony clarified.
"And I'll ease up. Maybe if I back off she'll talk to me more," Hank also proposed.
"We all need to lighten up. The team needs to support her fully," Steve recommended.
"Either way…Strucker is going down," Tony stated, as the other two nodded.
Janet scrambled out of the bathroom quickly, putting on her heels while jumping around to find her earrings. She exhaled a sigh of relief when she found them on her dresser, swiftly putting the golden hoops in her ears. She then hurriedly walked back to her bathroom and put on the finishing touches of her mascara and blush. Finally, she glossed her full lips, making them plumper than usual. She took one last look in the mirror, satisfied with the way she looked.
Her dress was black that ended to the middle of her thigh, while her long sleeves ended just below her elbows. Her black pumps made her grow three inches, and her makeup was done quite beautifully, considering she rarely ever did it. She straightened her hair, instead of having it in its usual design, causing the ends to gently touch her shoulders. Her gold jewelry added the finishing touches, helping her radiant eyes to glisten even further. She was impressed with the dress itself, flattering her slender body immensely, all while purchasing it on sale in a clearance rack at her favorite store.
The sun was finally beginning to set, causing the sky to turn to a perfect orange color. It was time to leave, and she was dreading going downstairs to see the entire team waiting for her. Clever as she was, she already had a plan. Upon multiple occasions when she wanted to escape without the rest of the team seeing, she drilled a small hole in her window that she could easily slip through when she wanted. Jarvis often protested to fix it, but she made it clear she did not want that. She went to that specific window and poked the spot where she drilled. The glass easily slipped out and landed on the outer edge of the sill. She grabbed her purse, shrunk down and flew out of the window and toward the restaurant.
She landed in front and grew back, already noticing multiple undercover SHIELD agents scattered around the streets. She rolled her eyes, took a deep breath and went inside the restaurant. The entire place was empty. All Janet could hear was the melodious violin playing softly.
"Ms. Van Dyne?" a host asked, as she nodded slowly. "Please follow me." Her body was already charged, in case of an ambush. However, she found herself in a candlelit room with a violinist playing softly in the corner. Strucker was patiently sitting at the only table, waiting for her. His face lit up when he saw her, as he instantly stood up and took out her chair for her to sit down. Janet eyed him skeptically, slowly taking a seat. He pushed her in and then sauntered over back to his place.
She surveyed the room next, looking for any cameras. There were a couple of HYDRA agents, but they were standing outside of the main hall, keeping guard.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, his accent making a shiver run down her spine.
She shrugged, "Just waiting for the ambush. Any second now…"
He chuckled, "I can assure you, this dinner is real." She kept her eyes steady and her ears open, waiting to see or hear anything unexpected. By this time, the waiter brought two glasses and poured wine into them. He studied her, "You do not believe me."
"What do you think?"
He took a sip of wine, letting it rest in his mouth for a few seconds. He swallowed slowly, enjoying the taste. "Imported from my home in Germany. You must try some."
"I don't plan on having any alcohol tonight," she retorted.
"Nothing is poisoned, if that is what you are insinuating," he smiled smugly, as she narrowed her eyes. "And it's not like the many SHIELD agents outside the restaurant can't hear or see what's happening." She stifled a laugh, actually agreeing how obvious they were being. "Fury is getting sloppy."
"At least we agree on something," Janet said, taking a sip of her water hesitantly.
"Once we get to know one another, I can assure we'll have more in common than you think," he flirted, taking another slow sip. Janet's palms were sweating slightly, doing her best to ignore his comment. She glanced around the room once more.
"Where's your lap dog? Isn't she supposed to be glued to your hip all day, everyday?" Janet said snidely, referring to the Widow. He didn't take any offense to it.
"I gave her the night off," he said simply. The waiter finally came out and placed salads in front of them, adding a dash of pepper on top.
"Yeah…or she's on the roof listening to everything we're saying," she replied, knowing she was correct. He didn't say anything, keeping his perfect poker face intact.
"That is actually why I invited you to dinner this evening," he began, taking a bite of salad. She waited for him to continue, but he didn't. She took a few bites of her salad.
"What? Sitting on top of roofs and stalking people?" Janet said, sipping her water.
"Not exactly," Strucker grinned, finding her utterly amusing. He didn't elaborate on his thoughts. He finished his salad, waiting for her to complete hers. When she did, the waiter picked up the plates and refilled their glasses. She waited for him to continue the conversation, only he kept quiet and said nothing else. Obviously getting dirt on him was going to be harder than anticipated.
She decided to change the subject. "What's for dinner? Not some German delicacy, I hope. I'm not exactly known for liking other foods."
"Oh?"
"I'm more of a hamburger and fries girl, myself."
He chuckled once more, "I would never subject you to eat something that was unfamiliar to you. Tonight will be simple."
She had to admit, he was charming…in a creepy old man sort of way. She thought about it, and if his life was backwards, he could've been happily married with many children and grandchildren. He could've been happy. Unfortunately, he had to be an evil dictator that was old enough to be her grandfather. Knowing that fact sickened her, making her leg shake nervously.
"So why did you invite me here?"
"I thought it was clear. I have a proposition for you."
"Yes, I know that, but you had to have known that I didn't agree for personal reasons, did you?"
"Of course not, I knew you had your team's interest in the matter," he said coolly, knowing exactly what was going on. She didn't answer, thinking he was completely stupid for even asking if he knew such things would happen. "Whatever the reason, I had to speak with you either way. If it was more for your team, then so be it."
"So then what game are you playing at?" she blurted loudly, making him look at her confused.
"Pardon?"
"Don't act dumb about it either," she sighed, hating the game he was playing. When he still didn't answer her, she became a little irritated. "Why are you being so…so nice? It's completely out of character. The real Baron Strucker would've wiped me clean already."
He was silent momentarily, as the waiter finally came out with their entrée. A hamburger was placed in front of her, along with a basket of fries. The waiter delivered the same thing to Strucker, as he looked at it pleasingly. She was shocked to see one of her favorite meals sitting in front of her. There was no way they could've made it that fast when she told him. "I told you…I'm a changed man."
Or you're a complete stalker…she thought, tentatively eating a fry.
"Are you surprised?" he asked, taking a bite.
"No," she said, taking a bite herself. He raised his brows, as if asking her what that meant. "You have been watching me for some time now…" She stared into his blue eyes when she said it, remembering that very day when he followed her around the rainy streets. She knew everyone was listening, but she had to corner him in some way. He seemed phased for a split second, but then put back on his perfect demeanor.
"What's not to admire?" he said finally, continuing to eat. She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I don't know how they show affection in Germany, but here it comes across as creepy," she stated in an icy tone, letting him know that she didn't appreciate it at all.
"My apologies, I did not know I was offending you."
"Yes, you did," she said in a lower tone, taking a large gulp of water. She had made it awkward. Her job was to be flirty and kind, and instead her true feelings for him came out: hatred. She was blowing it, and she had to get back in the game before he kicked her out. She opened her mouth to speak when he stopped her.
"Allow me to make it up to you. I will finally tell you the reason why I invited you tonight," he said, his eyes becoming gentle and sincere. She eyed him skeptically before nodding for him to continue. "As you know, one of my allies and best operatives was taken from me many months ago. Although she was still on the side of evil, anything I said she would've done for me. However, as you can see, Viper is no longer part of the HYDRA organization, and since that time…I've been searching for a replacement."
Janet nearly choked on her fry, her eyes bulging out of their sockets. She could just imagine everyone that was listening yelling and freaking out in a frenzy. Her? Working for him? As a HYDRA agent? Being one of his closest and best operatives?
"What about the Black Widow?" she blurted, gulping down large amounts of water.
"Ah, I shall make myself more clear. You see, I always have two agents at my side, as they are my eyes, ears and voice for everything I do. They foresee all my aspects and help me with anything I need. Natasha is my right side agent. You will be my left, taking over Viper's position," Strucker explained, as her palms sweated even worse. She couldn't believe how serious he was.
"You realize that this will present major problems. I'm an Avenger, the one thing you used to swear you'd one day destroy," Janet said quickly.
He chortled at her spastic behavior, "My dear, those days are forever in my past. Once I realized none of my plans were working, I simply turned over to the good side, thinking I could do better there. This job would not take you away from your heroic duties, but will simply help me to gain where I need to be to help this world."
She suddenly lost her appetite from her food. Hell, she suddenly lost all feeling. She couldn't believe he was putting so much trust in her. She was an Avenger and slightly working for SHIELD as well. She would be surrounded and asked so many questions day after day. Didn't he know that? Was he a complete idiot?
"You trust me?" she finally asked, looking into his eyes.
"My dear, I have nothing to hide. It does not bother me that you work for another agency and are part of an elaborate team," he repeated, making sure she knew it was all right. Fury was probably celebrating by now, popping champagne and making toasts left and right. She was in was deeper than she ever thought. This could either beneficial, or extremely bad. He broke her thoughts when he leaned in closer over the table, "And I trust you with my life."
Clearly you're not only insane, but also stupid…she thought.
"I know money isn't an issue for you, but your salary will be exponentially greater than you've ever imagined," he continued. He paused, slightly leaning in closer, "I know the other Avengers don't see your potential, but I do. You have more power inside you than you think, my dear, and I can show you that."
She scrunched her brows together, wondering what he meant by that. She wasn't extremely powerful in any way, only that she could shrink and shoot beams from her hands, but stored up power? Highly unlikely. He was even crazier than originally thought.
"Do we have a deal? I can wait for your answer if you need time…" he breathed, sitting back in his chair.
She paused for dramatic affect. Although he didn't show it, she knew he was squirming inside from anticipation. She made a small smile, "There's no need for the wait, Baron. It's a deal."
And with that, she raised her hand and shook his gloved one, firmly pressing them together to know that job had begun. Janet was really going undercover now…
Chapter 4:
Getting a little more intense…
Ok, I know Strucker is out of character by A LOT, but that is how he is for now. Maybe in later chapters he will seem more in character (hint, hint).
Also, some people did comment on the use of language of the story: I would just like to point out that I am basing this on real life situations and not the PG rated version of the show. These are ADULTS that work and put their lives on the line everyday. They ARE going to curse here and then…
Besides that small bit of info, keep reading and reviewing, because you guys really do help me with it.
SilverShadow09