Chapter VI:

What Remains of the Avengers

The following morning, I made sure to remove the device from the wall. The entirety of the device is simply to loop the footage of my apparent 'sleep' to fool the artificial intelligence system. Much to easy. It's almost sad, really.

Now, as I stand in what used to be the commons area of the New Avengers Facility, its dreary and sad. As though rain clouds loom over the room, the light of which has been chased away by the darkness. This is what happens when two factions align and divide the sides. No matter the victor, both sides are loser. All is lost, that's what makes the sad sight amusing.

To see the greats fall so far. The realization that they are just as weak and fragile as the rest. A sight that has forever eluded the public's attention, that the Avengers aren't as good as they claim to be.

At the sound of heavy, labored breathes, I turn. Tony Stark is currently helping the still-crippled Rhodes walk on Stark's newly created device to enable his friend to walk once again. Tony's brow was creased in what I assume is worry, as for Rhodes, he's drenched in sweat from the strain. I imagine that being paralyzed and having to adapt to a new way of walking would be an easy feat.

I predicted it before either of them did. Wanting to appear kindly and pleasant, I move silently through the room and catch the arm of Rhodes, slowing his fall. I ease him to the ground and he, and Stark, both look up. Surprised to see me.

"Are you alright?" I ask, noting how emotionless my tone sounds in my own ears.

Rhodes nods, slowly. "Yeah. Thanks."

"You're leaning too much weight forward, for better mobility, center you weight. It'll prevent your face from having so much contact with the floor," with that, I release his arm and turn away. Leaving the two of them be, I make my way down a narrow hall in the right wing on the facility. This is where all the bedrooms for the Avengers, I use the term loosely, are located.

Most of the doors are left open, allowing me to briefly glace into the rooms as I pass. The code names of the heroes are labeled by a metal name plate on the door. Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Falcon.

Vision, the comprised synthetic being doesn't have a room. He has a dwelling, due to his being created, I've been told that he does not sleep. Though that could be false information. It was provided to me by Thaddeus Ross. Whoever told him may not have been as well verse in the world of the Avengers and their inter-workings as we would have liked.

The sight of yellow and a figure phasing through the wall momentarily stuns me. Not enough to completely unhinge me, but enough for me to widen my eyes a bit and quirk an eyebrow. Speak of the devil.

It's Vision himself, perhaps his ears were burning?

His form manifests itself, he seems to suddenly realize my presence in the hallway as he blinks twice in my direction. "I'm sorry, I was not aware that you were here. Mr. Stark informed us that there was going to be a guest. I did not expect in to be so sudden. You must be Ms. Kassner. I'm Vision, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Same. You seem distracted, are you well?" I ask, deflecting any chance for him to over analyze me.

"Yes, I am. Things have be rather... troubling lately. The loss of our former associates has diminished the moral of all of us. It is truly sad that we must all be at odds, but such a price comes with oversight and regulating. As for you Ms. Kassner?"

A pretend smile. "I'm well. Though I won't be staying here very long, I'm on assignment. Secretary Ross needed information on ways for, non-powered individuals to handle threats of a more advantaged position. He wanted me to seek counsel from Anthony about ways in which to do so."

Vision appraises me for a moment. In that instant, I feel as though he's looking through me. Rifling through me deepest darkest places hidden within the cracks of my mind, tugging out my memories that haunt me. "You are a woman of a thousand faces Ms. Kassner. I do not understand it, but you are much more than you let on. Do you take refuge in hiding?"

My defenses immediately shutter around me. Hiding my truer self from prying eyes. "I'm afraid that I don't understand."

"Do not feel the need to defend yourself against me, I will not bring you harm. What I mean is that I can see, from the shadows that plague your eyes, that there's another story being told. I cannot make out the details, but you have not seen the easiest life. You wear many personas and they enable you not to feel, rarely do you spend time as your true self. Am I correct?"

I say nothing. Then, "I think I better be going."

Vision doesn't make a move to stop me, I think it's because he already knows his suspicions were correct.

The earliest memory I have of my mother, is when I was five. She'd finally returned from some country that she wouldn't inform me with the name of. I was left in someone else's care for those years prior to her return. Four full years of my life spent without knowing who my mother was, what her face looked liked, or even what her first name was.

For me, she was an enigma. A fairy tale. Someone who didn't exist, for if she did, why didn't she care enough about me to be around? After I saw her, I knew we were related, I have her nose, her light—almost pale— skin tone, and her puffy lips. She was beautiful and magnetic. I wanted to grow up and be as beautiful as her.

That changed fast. She may be pretty on the outside, but my mother is emotionless. Aside from the most vile of them. No love in her heart. It was something that I've denied for years, and even still continue to do. For I know that once I admit it, I'll know fully why my mother is never concerned for my well-being. Why her love as so unattainable.

She doesn't care.

Not the way that I do for her, even if she was a distant attachment. I've always desired her approval, to make her proud of me. To see me as someone of worth and value, for her to care. Perhaps she does, maybe she just keeps those feelings buried. How could she not? She gave me life.

I sigh in frustration, running a hand through my blonde hair.

This is foolishness, I'm an adult and I shouldn't desire 'Mommy's' approval for anything. I've grown up without having it and now, at my age, I should be able to cope wit her detached nature. She must care, to some degree. Why else would I be allowed to live? To grow as old as I have if there was nothing worthwhile about me. The associates Mother works with wouldn't hesitate to do so.

Not that they would succeed of course, not now anyways. When I was younger though? They might have very well done just that. Unless they wanted me as well, for something. For this.

My eyes focus dart up at the mirror, seeing blond locks splayed through my parted fingers, noting it differently. The way it's supposed to look. Glaring, I look at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and I can see what Vision was talking about though, the dark circles under my eyes and the detached look in my blue eyes.

"Shit," I sigh, my dark brown hair is stating to peek from the fading blonde dye. It's been nearly two weeks she it was last done, it's time for me to re-apply that temporary hair dye. I've been putting it off, but now I regret it.

Tugging at the hair, I rearrange the rest of it to hide my true hair color. Before I can check my work, my phone starts to ring. Reaching for the phone in my pocket, I slide the bar on the iPhone and hold it to my phone.

"Hello?" I ask, not having bothered to examine the name on caller ID.

"Ms. Kassner, how are things with Stark?" Thaddeus Ross asks, his voice light. Though I'm nearly positive that he's waiting anticipation, and sitting on the edge of his seat for my response.

"Everything is fine, Mr. Stark has given me an outline program for ways to combat enhanced individuals, means to contain them, and various methods an devices to create that would help in-field operations."

"Good, and what do you think of it?"

Picturing the outline in my head. "It's alright, there are a few glaring flaws, but they're easily fixable problems. The plan has a steady foundation that is sure to help the United States government deal with these people."

"That's great to hear, send me a digital copy of the outline. You'll be staying at the New Avengers facility for one more day, I have another assignment for you. I'll be in touch, keep your phone on hand. Goodbye."

The line goes dead. Great talk Ross, I roll my eyes and slip my phone back into my pocket.

Tony Stark stops by a handful of hours after my first encounter with Vision. He didn't seem to be in a rush to find me, but he was seeking me out. Though the issue for which must not be pressing.

"There you are, I've been looking for ya," Stark says as I stand before him, peering out from behind the door of my room.

"Well I'm not that hard to find, there aren't to many places that an AI couldn't locate me," I reply, tone deadpan.

Tony Stark gives me a short glare. One that says that he isn't amused by my comment, but that's perfectly fine. His childish little quips and jabs are not at all amusing to me either. "I didn't ask F.R.I.D.A.Y. where you were, at first, I tried to search you out like the olden days, but I gave up."

"What did you need? I mean, you've obviously come searching for a reason."

"Yeah, c'mon Blondie. I've want to show you something in my workshop," Tony Stark turns and starts down the hall, leaving me no option except to follow him. And follow him I do.

A/N:

Sorry that it took me so long to write this chapter, my personal issues are making it difficult to focus on writing. Not to mention that this chapter certainly wasn't easy to write, it wasn't as bad as some of the others I've written. Next chapter will have more Tony and Johanna talking/bonding/whatever-ing. Then I'm thinking I''ll start the real plot the chapter after next, by next chapter we'll be seven chapters in, eight if you include the prologue so it's not rushed anymore. So yeah, we just have next chapter and then I'll start getting into the real depth of the story. Anyways, as always comment below if you like this story and if you love it, add it to your favorites. And I'll be back soon with the next chapter!