Dance With the Devil
Summary: Toni Stark had never been oblivious to how the world viewed her and her weapons-making. She was the Merchant of Death, a demoness, the devil himself, or herself. But what happens when she meets the ACTUAL devil? How does it change her life? The fate of the world? Read to find out!
"You mean to tell me that all it takes for him," Ross pointed to the silent - terrifying - sorcerer floating contentedly in the air and observing the reaction to Toni's words. "To decimate a superpowered alien with the most powerful artifacts in existence and then plow through the Avengers as if it's child's play is a date with you!? Since when is this normal!? Since when is this my life!?"
Toni herself could only shrug. "He's been asking for a date for a long while now and I kept brushing him off. Since I technically summoned him with the intention of asking something I couldn't achieve or accomplish on my own, it is a bargain, or a deal, with the devil and those always need to be on equal footing. Strange wants a date, so I am giving him a date. It's my payment for his services."
Stephen snorted and settled down on his feet, walking up to her. "I don't want a date. Well, yes, I do, but not because you felt compelled to accept my request. I'd rather you just accept to consider the idea of going out with me rather than going out with me when you don't want to. And besides, taking down that giant purple nutsack is partially to my own benefit, too. Not only did I get rid of a serious threat to the universe - which is my job - I also had an excuse to talk to you again."
"You needed to wait for the end of the world in order to gather the guts to talk to her again?" Hope could only ask with an arched eyebrow while Scott gawked from beside her. "Did you guys have a fight or something?"
"Something like that," they both admitted at the same time, looking away from each other, not caring for the gawking and gapping happening around them. "It was only two months ago!" Toni protested when she saw even Rhodey was looking at them weirdly. Her best friend only groaned at that.
"Wow, that's a way to hold a grudge." Peter commented with a whistle, seemingly impressed. Hope only snorted.
"My father holds a grudge against Howard Stark since before Toni was born and had transfered it onto her when Mr Stark died. That's a grudge." Parker simply gawked at her.
"Is no one going to mention that the Lady of Iron now possesses two very dangerous new battle accessories?" Loki finally interjected, pointedly staring at the two almost forgotten about Gauntlets, gleaming under the artificial light of the office they had all gathered in, the Infinity Stone's content and way too comfortable in their new perch. "Because how she got them is not normal."
"Yeah, I'm confused about that, too." Stark admitted, turning her gaze back onto Strange, who only shrugged.
The real discussion was only just starting.
00000
"You know, this wouldn't have happened if you'd just let me take Maximoff away to Kamar-Taj for some training in her new abilities." Stephen took the time to tell her as they watched the footage from Lagos over and over again while the genius he was talking to was busy simultaneously working on a pardon for the young woman and the Accords Agreement that was being pushed forward a long time before it was actually ready to be put in power, because of what happened in Lagos. "At the very least, we'd have sealed off the excess power so she can't hurt anyone."
"This wasn't her fault. She misjudged how her actions might affect those people who were nearby but not in immediate line of sight. Yes, she should be held partially accountable, but she hadn't done it on purpose."
"You mean, as opposed to joining HYDRA and helping Ultron?" Came the sarcastic reply from her companion, but Toni had to agree. With Maximoff's track record, no one was going to believe that she hadn't intended for all of those people to die or be so badly hurt when the bomb exploded. "And what about the fact that she and the others weren't even supposed to be there in the first place? I heard the Nigerian government wants to declare them terrorists. Not that I'd blame them ... "
"I really don't have the time to discuss this, Doc. I need to try and push for these clauses as soon as possible, because there is a UN meeting tomorrow in Vienna and King T'Chaka needs to read them to see whether he will speak up for these suggestions or not." She replied distractedly as JARVIS streamed the public's response to the tragedy in Lagos while FRIDAY was sending her updates on the Stark Effort group and their progress in finding survivors, injured and those who needed housing until further accommodations can be arranged. She had never before been so grateful for Extremis as she was now and she had never before been so glad to have SHIELD's ex agents on her side than now as she watched them put things back together as best as they could be repaired in the first place.
"I could help, you know."
"Don't you have some big magic meeting in Hogwarts later today?" She snarked at him, enjoying the eye roll her baby girl recorded for her and sent her since her own eyes were glued to the texts before her, physical in the form of paperwork, holographic, digital and the files that her AIs sent directly to her through Extremis. "Besides, these are very delicate. They need the touch of someone who has been in the public eye a lot more recently than a former neurosurgeon hoping to disappear from the world's collective memory because he is actually the devil and immortal. Since I've been in the spotlight since pretty much since my birth, I'm best for the job. Not to mention all the connections I've managed to gather and the fact that King T'Chaka is fond of me. Sorry, Merlin, but this needs to be a personal effort."
"And what do you plan to do about the Avengers and how destructive their methods have become as of late? Ever since you've left, accountability seems to be an abstract word they have never heard or read about before." He did have a point there. It's one of the reasons so many countries were vying for the Accords now. The Avengers were becoming dangerous, not just to the villains they fought, but to the people they had swore to protect. Toni had noticed this tendency long before what happened in Lagos - hell, Romanoff and Rogers nearly killed three thousand people who had any sort of affiliation with SHIELD or were considered a threat to HYDRA's plans in their hurry to 'deliver justice', when simply crashing the Helicarriers would have done the job. Or contacting her and having her hack into them to make them stand down, like Fury would have tried just like he had contacted her regarding the lives of his former agents who now worked for her and were damn safe - but she had always been there before, to smooth things over. What with having been busy about the Accords, searching for Bruce, repairing Sokovia, dealing with SI business and catching up with her favorite sorcerer while constantly working on her suits and practicing the limits of Extremis with J and FRI, Toni hadn't really bothered to check up on how her former teammates were doing. She regretted it now, because this could have been prevented. Not the Accords, those are going to happen whether they liked it or not, but the tragedy in Lagos, all those deaths, could have been stopped.
"That's the whole point of these. Accountability for superpowered or enhanced individuals, or really anyone who's fighting the 'good fight', some restrictions that will prevent them from ever falling under the rule of one agency like it was supposed to under SHIELD - had anyone else but Fury been the director, we'd of been nothing but attack dogs for HYDRA - and legal and human rights for us, too. I'm working towards a clause that allows you to sign under your alias in order to protect the hero's identity if they have a sensitive job, living environment or a family and friends to protect, which is why I need King T'Chaka to speak up for me in front of the UN. If the Accords as they are come to power, it will be like putting a collar on us all. On the other hand, if T'Chaka and I manage to push through for these clauses, it just might make people not fear or hate us again."
"It's not you they fear or hate, despite what some of them keep saying to you." Toni winced at the reference of how random people would come up to her, shove pictures of their dead family members in her face and accuse her for not saving them. Thank whatever higher power that Stephen had cleared out most of Sokovia before Ultron's attack. Had she not gotten in contact with him in time and sent him over there to get those people out while creating an illusion to trick Ultron that the city was full, the casualty report could have been devastating. It didn't prevent the people who had lost someone from all but assaulting her with their grief. Especially since the suit was now a part of her and she had to restrain it from covering her from head to toe in armor at every skip of her heart due to fear, however brief. It wouldn't do to accidentally hurt, or worse kill, a civilian. People still liked Iron Maiden. Her popularity hadn't abated one iota, as opposed to the rest of the Avengers. Russia, and two dozen other countries, wanted Romanoff's head on a silver platter as it was. Maximoff was even worse of, as she had been seen plenty of time by Ultron's side and some of her former neighbors who knew that also told reporters and the paparazzi that she had ran off with her brother to join HYDRA. Several countries were even vying for Rogers' imprisonment due to the sensitive nature of some information that SHIELD had on them that got released onto the Internet in the data dump. The military and Pepper herself wanted Wilson court martialed because he had all but stolen a military SI project from a few years back. Toni might be getting accosted by grieving civilians, but the rest of the world were reasonable enough to listen to her explanation about how Ultron came to be, as opposed to her former teammates. They didn't blame her for Ultron. They just blamed her for not saving everyone. But they didn't hate her, which meant she had to try and help the other Avengers, too.
The threat she had seen coming in that vision was not one she can fight on her own.
"I know. But this is the right thing to do. I'm sure they'll see that and understand. If anyone, Rogers is certain to agree with me." She smiled at her doubting friend, ignoring how his reaction put her on edge. Stephen wasn't a mind reader - unless he tries - but he could detect and read auras and he had never been fond of Rogers'. Especially not since the fall of SHIELD. He said Rogers was always so secretive around Toni - those few times he barged in and had to hide and observe from the Mirror Dimension until the brunette was free - nervous, uneasy, sometimes showing guilt and wariness, obviously hiding something. It made her a little wary, too, wondering what could make Steve act like that. She just hopes it won't affect the team or the Accords.
They were in enough shit, anyway.
00000
King T'Chaka had told Toni a few times about his kids, his elder son and younger daughter. The prince and princess of Wakanda were both apparently bright people, but Prince T'Challa, when she met him, lacked the easy warmth and kindness King T'Chaka radiated as he introduced her to his son. Toni was quite possibly the only outsider the Dora Milaje, their elite warriors and personal guards, were used to and somewhat comfortable with around their royalty, but T'Challa had no such fondness for her. He stared at her with suspicious eyes as she negotiated point after point with his father, determined to get those clauses into the Accords contract and law. T'Chaka made few objections, added his own thoughts on how to better the things he objected or commented on what people might be pleased with. Wakanda may be small and isolated, but her King was no fool.
Neither was Toni. For all that Wakanda had the world fooled with their act of being some backwater, poor, African country that was awed by a TV, Howard had long since been aware of the true nature of the country and the mountain of Vibranium it sat on. Howard had never been to Wakanda and he never specified how he got the Vibranium for Steve's shield, but he had obviously been aware enough of Wakanda's true nature to get his hands on it. Toni, though, had proof that Wakanda was not what it presented itself to be. For one, the two men before her were dressed in suits that must have cost a fortune. For another, even Wakandans had to be connected to the Internet if they wanted to search something about the outside world and there were now three masters of the Internet, with JARVIS and FRIDAY constantly reviewing everything that was being posted or searched or downloaded each day, all day long. Looking something up eventually leads to revealing the digital location, even with Wakanda's incredible scramblers. Between J and FRI, no one can hide, no matter how hard someone might try.
Toni had reviewed the scrambling algorithm herself and she was impressed. There was no way a third-world country could do that without having some serious tech. It got her curious, and when Toni Stark was curious, she sated the curiosity and nothing could stand in her way. It was laughingly easy to sneak past all of their firewalls, what with Extremis and her AIs. And when she did, she found a true technological marvel, all due to the Vibranium they possessed and their isolation from the rest of the world. But the paranoid side of her brain, the one that had managed to keep her alive this long, also perceived a great threat in Wakanda, should they ever decide to use their advanced tech on the rest of the world. It made Toni's inventor side itch for a screwdriver and a Jericho Mark XXIV - her brain never rested since she was a kid; with Extremis, those subconscious plans turned into full fledged schematics. Building weapons was in her blood. Just look at how Extremis had responded regarding her suit, which was a weapon. Or an armada - in order to have a counter measure in place but she stilled the urge by remembering what the last built Jericho brought.
She had her eye - or rather, JARVIS' and FRIDAY's sensors and cameras - on them but she felt no need to confront them as of yet.
She shook hands with the King and his heir when they finished the meeting, twenty minutes before the UN Council was supposed to convene, feeling like she had accomplished something and a grin settled on her lips. She was so tempted to take out her phone and call Stephen, but she herself had chided the man about his Hogwarts meeting and she knew whatever he was doing was probably far more important than chatting with her while she was this euphoric. She had twenty minutes of free time on her hands - a very rare thing indeed, these tiresome days - and she was thinking of checking in with Vision - who was on Witch-sitting duty back at the Compound, for the young woman's own sake since many countries pretty much wanted her head on a spike - when an explosion shook the building, shattering glass and breaking several floors of the building. The armor was around her in a second even before she started falling forwards. Her AIs immediately stabilized her before giving her back the reigns as ahe whirled around and flew in the direction the blow had come from, dread filling her stomach when she saw how close it was to where she had parted ways with the Wakandan royals.
When she got there, a grieving T'Challa looked up from his father's all too still body and Toni knew that the fair King was dead. T'Challa did not shrug off her hand when she came to stand beside him and silently mourn a good friend.
00000
The media uproar of the bombing in Vienna combined with the latest events with the Avengers left the Accords ... vulnerable to be manipulated however someone of power and influence saw fit. Without T'Chaka's guiding presence, the Accords Council lost direction and left an opening for none other than General Thaddeus Ross to slink his way in like the weasel that he was. A deranged, obsessed, dangerous weasel that Toni had pissed off in order to help SHIELD keep him off of Banner's back, but a weasel none the less. A truly dangerous one. One that pretty much hated all enhanced individuals, no matter who they are. Not even Captain America passed in his book.
Toni knew the Accords as they are were doomed as soon as she saw that victorious twinkle in the man's eyes.
The number she had memorized long ago 'itched' in her brain, begging to be called upon so Stephen can make Ross 'disappear'. Maybe he'd appreciate enhanced individuals more if he realized what sort of threats they could be facing.
Her former teammates weren't helping the situation. As soon as some news reporter said on the TV that the Winter Soldier - one James 'Bucky' Barnes, Steve Rogers' best friend and the man he'd apparently been searching for and keeping secret ever since the fall of SHIELDRA - was the main suspect and most likely culprit to have set up the bomb, all hell broke loose. Rogers panicked and he and Wilson grabbed Barnes and tried to escape. Toni later on learned that Sharon Carter, her godmother's niece, was helping them, later even providing them with their confiscated equipment, but that happened after Rogers resisted arrest, hospitalized a dozen and killed three law enforcers in his haste to keep Barnes out of jail, engaged in a highway super enhanced chase with the new King of Wakanda, the Black Panther himself, which ended up in a collapsed bridge that killed a family of four and seven other people, was arrested, brought in, all but spat on the Accords and proceeded to break out with Barnes and Wilson.
By the time the airport battle happened in Germany, Wilson, Barnes and Rogers were long since international criminals and Maximoff's chances of keeping her visa and her freedom had dwindled close to zero. It hit zero with a loud gong when the Scarlet Witch crashed Vision through a dozen floors of reinforced concrete in the Avengers Compound when Barton came to recruit her for 'Team Cap'. Whatever good will Toni had had in ensuring her freedom disappeared when she found out what happened to her youngest creation. The Witch was going to prison, Avenger or not.
Her team had shocking new additions. T'Challa insisted on coming to ensure the murderer of his father faced justice, and not just Wakandan justice, something she had had to get through his thick, revenge-preoccupied skull. Romanoff she didn't trust for a second and she didn't want her by her side, but she had surprised Toni by signing the Accords almost immediately. Ross wanted her out in the field and Toni had no choice but to take her along. Vision and Rhodey were a given, they had agreed with the Accords immediately and knew of the changes Toni was fighting for. The biggest surprise was this kid from Queens, Spider-Man, Peter Parker, who idolized and hero-worshiped her almost even more than Harley. Almost. They were equal in it. He was one hell of an enhanced kid and had a strong moral compass to booth. Toni wondered if Erskine saw this in Rogers, what she saw in Peter. Only difference? Peter never wanted to kill or overly hurt someone. Rogers had wanted to go to war, fight, hurt and kill as many Nazis as he could. They were like night and day.
She didn't dare call on Strange. The Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were meant to remain secret so they can fulfill their duties of protecting reality without being disturbed. Joining in on this clusterfuck would have had the exact opposite effect.
Rogers had a few surprises of his own, namely Ant Man, with his shrinking suit, and Barton, who was supposed to be retired with his family. Toni wasn't sure Laura even knew where her husband was. Wanda didn't look all that apologetic for what she had done to Vision and Toni had to send him digital hugs to comfort the android when he realized the extent of his emotions wasn't returned by his 'girlfriend'. Toni was extra surprised they allowed Barnes to fight. The Winter Soldier could be triggered far too easily and that put everyone in danger. Luckily, Toni had had JARVIS and FRIDAY warn the airport ahead so that the civilians could be evacuated and the planes diverted to other airports.
The aftermath of the battle had her extra thankful for the precaution, even as she felt Extremis burn under her skin as she watched Rhodey being wheeled away to ER so they can try to save his spine. She called Stephen, told him to get his but over to the operating room and save his friend before going to the RAFT.
It was time to end this and if Rogers won't do it, Toni will.
00000
"Can you really apply our normal to artifacts of infinite power and as old as the universe itself?" Stephen asked, looking around the room before his eyes settled on Toni. "Besides, the way I see it, this is the perfect defense against those like Thanos who seek to abuse that power."
"I don't follow." Gamora, the green alien woman from the Guardians of the Galaxy, admitted with a frown. She had stayed mostly quiet but she was curious now as to what the man meant.
"Think about it. With two Gauntlets instead of one, no one can use the Stone's power together and disintegrate half of all living creatures in the universe with just a snap of their fingers. All six Stones may be together in one place, but there is no artifact that can control them all at once anymore." Strange explained and it sounded ... reasonable. Brilliant, even, only one part didn't make sense.
"And why did the original Gauntlet morph into two only when Dr Stark touched it?" T'Challa asked with a glance at the woman in question before turning his gaze back to Strange.
Stephen only grinned. "Who better than the one woman who singlehandedly stopped Thanos in the first invasion?"