"Mmmm," Cole moaned softly. "Can you feel the burn?" He grinned, stretching out his quadriceps on the eighty-sixth floor. "I'm telling you. If you don't stretch, the lactic acid's going to build up in your muscles and prolong it. Seriously, you gotta stretch it out." He didn't look behind himself at his companions as they sat but rather concentrated on maintaining his own strength for what was about to come. His gaze occasionally peeking up between the railings to see if he could detect the final set of steps.
"How can you be in a jovial mood, considering this crap heap?" Kai questioned. Looking up at the expression on his ebony haired brother. The one who was revelling in his own muscular discomfort. Kai was merely rubbing his muscle pains out while waiting for Lloyd to return from his lonesome jaunt into the abandoned offices, adjacent to where they were huddled in the stairwell.
Cole was observing her sitting, recouping her fighting spirit. Nya, Jay's girlfriend, and the only kunoichi of the team, right now she was all solemn. Occasionally snappy and not just at Kai, everyone was getting it, even Zane. Cole had tried to console her, just as she had when he was cursed by Yang, but it was no use. For some reason, unknown to Cole, she was blaming herself for this, for Jay. And nothing he could say or do would snap her out of it either.
For now, Cole could see she was resting. Attempting to get her breath back into some sort of manageable cadence after having traversed so many flights in one go. Intermittently, she had begun cycling her legs to give some additional strength to get to the top of this building.
Thoughts back on himself again, he pondered. Initially, they had all felt relief from actually getting into this place in one piece. Lloyd had outwardly admitted that foreseeing the worst, he thought he was going to be cut to shreds by lasers at one point. After all, Kai was almost levelled by twenty feet metal letters from outside. He was sort of expecting something huge to happen to him, but it hadn't.
Cole knew that there was nothing remotely inspiring about this situation. Nothing compelling enough to get the pulse racing and the adrenaline surging at the same time.
The nervous excitement, the anticipation of seeing their brother again after so many weeks was still there. But after traversing seventy plus floors, the expectation was beginning to wear thin. And doubt was creeping in at how much danger they were putting themselves in. The problem is and Cole knew it, as a team, they had barely received a decent brief of what was happening. All they knew about Loki was that he wasn't from earth. Well, they had something in common at least and that was where the similarities ended.
The master of fire retrieved a warmed bottle of water from his gi and took a large gulp from it before screwing the top back on and stowing it away in his inner pockets. Looking up at the floor number with a feeling of dread and apprehension at what lay ahead, He turned to face Zane. "After so many floors, you'd expect to see one of those window cleaning platforms? But this guy must keep them locked away too."
Zane had looked out of the small steel-framed transom. These small window recesses were found on every other floor. Providing the only natural light in the lonely concrete stairway. A quick glimpse was all it required, Zane could only see the one side and there were no lift platforms to speak of. "Maybe Mr Stark does not use them?" He said, offering a valid excuse.
Not that it would have helped in the slightest. The window cleaning platforms still required a modicum of continuous power to function and operate. And, with their elements on the fritz, it was too risky to consider.
Cole nodded in agreement, a smirk gracing his now rugged features. "What if he uses his legion of Ironman suits to do the cleaning for him." He intoned, shrugging. Stretching out the other leg. Chuckling to himself, he turned to face the door. "Haa, it'd be much faster if you think about it? A whole sentry of his AI suits cleaning the building, and what a sight too."
"Indeed, but then I doubt that Stark Enterprises would turn down such small business the opportunity to make money," Zane replied in a monosyllabic voice that seemed to echo around the bare concrete walls. "You must remember the amount of energy required to power each of his suits of iron comes at a personal cost to him."
"You mean like aviation fuel?" Kai said, eyebrows raised.
"No," Zane replied. "Mr Stark created a non-conventional electrical power device. Otherwise known as an electro-magnetic arc reactor which is not constrained by the size and weight limitations of conventional technology. That alone, although a dependable energy source, is still a costly fuel."
"Haa whatever!" Kai snorted. "The dude is still loaded. He doesn't give a rats ass about smaller companies because he's arrogant and so far up his own a..."
"Kai?" Nya called. "Please, can we just stop the angry tirade. This is difficult for all of us, let's not make it harder than it needs to be."
"Hey, it wasn't an angry tirade," Cole stated. "He's just saying it as he sees it."
"Indeed he is." Zane frowned again. He had been the only one to converse with Iron Man and his AI. He found Mr Stark to be an interesting man, an inventor, not unlike his own brother Jay, though Jay did not have the ego.
Lloyd had walked through the emergency access door thanks to Cole breaking it down initially. Legs slightly stiff, he shook the pain off with a few long stretches before scouring the office suites.
Now having sauntered into the deserted offices. Lloyd spied some cooled coffee carafes, and right next to the cold beverages was a wicker basket of sugary goodness and baked goodies. It seemed wasteful not to eat them, so he took them in the basket provided. Then, on his way back to the door and his eagerly awaiting team, he stopped. In front of him was a vending machine. He growled at it, noting that the machine took money or credit cards, neither of which he had at that moment. But of course, he wasn't planning on buying the candy.
He did a hastily written note, an 'I owe you' for Stark. Lloyd would pay him back if needs be. But for the moment, they needed energy and fast because each and every one of them was waning, running low on reserves.
Momentarily stopping in front of it. Lloyd placed the basket under his arm and bottles of juice under his other. He was dithering as to which element to use to garner the required candy for this expedition. Without more than a moment of hesitation, he chose Jay's and his eyes widened ever so slightly at the sheer lack of it. Frowning at the absence Lloyd couldn't summon it at all. So instead, he simply used his own, pushing that to the back of his mind. He'd ask about it later.
Almost heavily laden with sweet treats and a basket of recently abandoned pastries of which any of them were yet to try. He had sauntered out of the office block with a selection to tempt his teammates with. All high energy foods, guaranteed to give a sugar high and get them all up the remaining stairs to face their brother.
And, as he'd made his way back to the door with the basket under his arm and a few OJ's under his other. He pondered on the differences in the provisions he had tried. Truthfully, they had only been given the SHIELD equivalent of pastries for breakfast, if they were quick enough to get the freshest baked foodstuffs. And most of their stuff was cooked in bulk, on-site and in the canteens. The difference is, this stuff looked to be made by a delicatessen or a nice bakery. It actually looked edible.
He shook his head in realisation as he took a bite of an iced pastry he'd not tried before. Mouth drooling at the sugary goodness. "Haa, y'know for such a multinational company, SHIELD has shitty caterers." He mumbled, talking to himself.
Closing in on the door, Lloyd grumbled again. He hadn't fully thought this through because he had no surface to plant to the basket down on and if he did, the bottles would fall from his grasp too. So, being as he had no free hands to push the door. Lloyd turned around and used his backside to open it. It was quite easy to do so since Cole had near enough destroyed it trying to wrench it open initially.
Now back in the echoing stairwell, Lloyd's smile returned at the presence of his brothers and Nya. "Surprise, look what I found." He yelled. Excitement clear to see on his face. As well as the traces of icing on his top lip.
"Ooh, a veritable banquet. This reminds me of Chen's island." Cole was quick to state. He stared wistfully into the basket of goodies, inspecting each one to see which he favoured the most.
"No," Lloyd said, placing the bottles down. "Chen's was all table based food, except in your room, of course." He corrected, remembering none too fondly.
"Lloyd's right," Kai said, nodding his head in agreement. "I never got to see a banquet like that at Chen's, I think you're mistaking that for Harumi's? Y'know the banquet you barely even tried because you feigned that you didn't like cake anymore?"
"What? It was the moment in my life when I was worried about my waist-line."
"In your early twenties, you were worried about your waist? Most people don't get that until they reach 30...or 40." Kai smirked. "Go on Cole, live a little."
"They say, everything in moderation including moderation. It is a good lesson to live by." Zane stated, taking a decorative orange from the basket and peeling it. Completely forgoing the sugary treats...for now.
Cole did the same, though his eyes remained glued to the only unclaimed chocolate muffin. It wouldn't have bothered Cole though, he only needed swet treats for the carbs and sugar content. Some fast energy, that was all that he needed. And he spied the basket again after the orange had done very little.
Tony Stark had such the expensive office complex in the financial district of Downtown Manhattan, that they assumed he would at least be able to afford some decent food, and they weren't mistaken.
Then he watched as each member took one or two from the offered snack basket. Sifting through the croissants, Iced buns and apple turnovers. Cole spotted the chocolate muffin again and in a moment of weakness he quickly snatched it before anyone could lay their grubby mitts on it.
"What?" He said, noting that his brothers and Nya were watching him with a questioning stare. And he knew why. He remembered making what would have been seen as an outlandish statement, where he stated his body was a temple and he was laying off the sweet stuff. "Look, a guy can change his mind on sweet treats, can't he? Y'know, everything in moderation?"
"I believe I just uttered that, Cole."
"You did," He mumbled with cake crumbs around his mouth. "And I'm just ratifying it. To make a valid point." He grinned. Teeth now stained with chocolate crumbs. "I'm still the responsible one, just got to have a sweet treat once in a while."
The closer they were getting to the floor, the more noise could be heard from outside. And, at one point, the team thought they were under direct attack as something had collided with the building.
After a short while, the team of five had found an emergency fire escape at level ninety three. Well, Cole knew that every high rise had to have them. And heck, Stark Enterprises would be shut down by the guys at the building regulations offices if it didn't have the appropriate fire doors in place.
Luckily, this fire door wasn't locked anymore. It was initially, but with help from Kai and his focused fire bending skills, Cole had managed to rip the door off its hinges.
Pushing it with some force, Cole had bent the bracket that held it in place and the door opened with relative ease, though once they had come through it, the door fell on its side with a loud clunk. Cole cringed as did Kai. Simply because the loud din would have alerted anyone within a fifty-metre radius, that he had just breached the living quarters of one Tony Stark.
True, the door probably wouldn't be closing anytime soon either, but that was the least of his worries. Heck, Tony Stark could send SHIELD the bill, because, as of yet, Cole and his team weren't getting a dollar for their work. Cole hadn't been given a payroll number or the proper credentials to be considered as anything other than an alien, neither had his team.
Looking around with the expectation of seeing something new, Cole frowned slightly. Sure this place was different from the concrete grey stairwell, it was pure white and almost neverending. Somehow, he had found what appeared to be a long corridor. And, as expected like the floors below, this too was abandoned.
To be expected really. The civilians had been evacuated to relative safety whilst the majority of fighting was taking place on and around this area. It was still disconcerting though, to be in this building, hearing things being pummelled against it on occasion. Whilst the incomplete Avengers team outside attempted to thwart Loki and the rift he was trying to create.
Once he had walked into the narrow long hall of the reception room he gawked at the objects on display. "Impressive, doesn't look like much though does it?" Cole said, eyes roving over the large thin room.
"It's minimalist, is what you're saying?" Kai said, nodding slowly. "This guy likes his toys though. Check this out," he said, picking up a small device and a remote.
"It's not that impressive." Nya intoned. The disappointment evident on her face and voice as she looked around the place with disdain. "He's spoilt, it's just...crass. I mean look how much stuff he has, does he truly need all of this?"
"This company originally belonged to his late father," Lloyd said. "Tony Stark made it what it is today, kinda like someone we all know back at home did. The same person who built his company up from nothing to being the most prominent in its field of high tech gadgetry."
"I would not do that Kai," Zane urged. "Mr Stark is very protective of his personal possessions. That could well be a prototype, one of its kind." He added for emphasis. "Irreplaceable..."
"Yeah, I bet he's protective of it," Kai said, rolling his eyes petulantly. He placed the object down just as gently as he'd picked it up. "He's got more money than sense."
"Finally, someone who agrees," Nya stated. "This whole thing reminds me of a certain family we met back in Ninjago, too much gold?"
"Actually," Zane interjected. "Mr Stark gives to charity causes too. He may be successful with providing armaments and relevant ammunitions but he attends regular charity functions and donates sizeable portions of his yearly incomings."
"How do you know all this?" Cole gaped.
"It is common knowledge. It is in the public domain. Furthermore, it is easily accessible through the wonders of WIFI and the global internet here."
"Well, being as your the only guy that can access the internet here, I'll take your word for it." Cole smiled, nodding slowly as he took in the narrow hallway that was leading to double doors dead ahead. "This place," he said. "It reminds me of Cyrus Borg's office. All the tech and gadgetry, the fact that he doesn't like his stuff being touched either."
"Yeah, but Borg actually makes stuff for us. Well, he did, once..." Lloyd replied. "I guess when trouble dies down, there's not really a need for high tech wheels or new weapons?"
"Guess you're right," Cole grunted as he pushed the doors. Expecting for them to put up a bit more of struggle and then he was wholly stunned when the double doors gave way and opened outwards. It was a small miracle that Cole hadn't faceplanted, but then he was still holding onto part of the frame at the time.
The double doors, to Cole's surprise, were not locked. He was at least expecting that. But then this was the fire exit and emergency stairwell. The hallway just traversed looked like it was hardly ever used. Yet it still appeared spotless, not a speck of dust anywhere.
Cole, shaking his head, had motioned his team into Tony Stark's private living quarters. Taking a quick glance around the luxury pad and ground floor atrium of his penthouse. Cole could tell that this Tony guy was a rich eligible bachelor. He certainly lived the life of a playboy. It was all fairly obvious though, the place had his name emblazoned on every surface. The only room that hadn't got his name signposted was the garage. The team between them had never seen so many luxury and expensive cars before in one room.
A small shuffling sound caught the whole team unawares and Cole stilled in his movements. Motioning his team to pull back until he could find the source of the slight disturbance, he couldn't take any risks. "Zane, scan the room. Think we've got company," he said, voice lowered. As habit forming as it was, Cole and his team had pulled up their scarves to hide their faces.
Then finally, to commence this attack, Cole pulled his weapons from his dual back holder, reflexively and Kai, he did the same. "Subdue only..." Cole warned.
He nodded in agreement. "Unless it's someone else?" Kai queried, spinning his dual tanto in his hands to warm up the tsuka bound grips on both carbon fibre weapons.
"We're not here to injure or kill, we need him in one piece," Lloyd stated from the back of the group. "Elements first, weapons last, got it? Keep your eyes peeled, he could be anywhere."
"What if Jay's using weapons too?" Kai asked, unsure. "Are we still just going to chance it, that he won't run us through?"
Zane closed in. Squeezing between the armed pair to alert them of the hostile that was here too. "Two floors up. He perceives we are here." He replied. Pulling his shuriken from his belt. "Subdue only, armaments to be used as a definitive option, defence only."
"He, you mean Jay, how? How the heck does he know that? We've been silent from ninety upwards." Kai argued. He scoured the place from his vantage point. Only being able to see two flights up and into the spacious living area. There were old French polished bookcases strewn everywhere. The appearance of them against the modern furniture looked odd in comparison, especially in contrast to the machinery and assorted trophies that Stark had won.
"I-I don't know, Kai. But whoever it is, knows we're here so we gotta be prepared for anything."
Cole was about to turn and ask Lloyd and Nya if they were ready for this when a lonesome dark figure had appeared in front of them, having jumped from two flights up. Landing with a heavy thud in a crouching stance. He grunted slightly at the feeling of breathlessness, all the wind jarred from his lungs in that impressive but risky manoeuvre. The man remained hunched over, getting his breath back. Steadily, his arms had begun to unfold and he grasped at his crossed katana behind him. Cut and bloodied up hands were gently touching and caressing the bound tsuka handles of his jet black weapons.
Eyes widening at the scene before him, Cole sucked in a breath and held it, waiting for the next move.
The appearance of a lone warrior had shaken him to the core. He certainly wasn't expecting to be jump scared like that. Cole was more expecting to burst into a room and fight. Though, to be fair...what was he really expecting? It was Jay that they were looking for. This guy looked nothing like him.
"Who is that?" Kai queried, worriedly. His grasp tighter on his weapons as he took in the massively threatening stance now afforded to all five. Not to mention the arc of this man's eyebrows was raised. Was he mocking them, as a team? "Zane, can you uh, scan it?"
"It?" Zane frowned. Voice lowered so as not to insult. Though he doubted his refraining from being impertinent would change the stance of this relatively unknown foe. He certainly looked ready to impose pain. Surely if he was sent to kill, he would have already so. "This is clearly a man," He cringed, "One we know well."
The guy before him looked vaguely familiar. But it was a face that looked so different from the same one seen nine weeks prior. Cole, breath held as he took in the state of the man before him. "Jay?" He said softly. Voice doubtful. He had been told it was Jay but he wasn't really sure anymore. The appearance of his auburn haired brother had shaken him and he shifted back in response to get a better look.
He thought that he and his team looked like shit after these last few days. What with all the travelling and weird food here. Not to mention the sheer amount of stairs travelled up, to get to this point. But this man looked terrible and he hoped that it wasn't the man they were all looking for. Because this was beyond cruel, this was barbaric.
Cole hadn't received an answer to his question. He wondered if the man who stood directly in front could hear him, or if his mind had been spirited away. He shook his head when he watched the man. Willing him to stop, to rethink this futile plan. He was outnumbered, one against five was no fair fight. "Please, don't!" Cole warned, pleading.
Breathing heavily from the noxious gas he had just been exposed to, the warrior slowly unsheathed two obscenely sharp ebony coloured blades. He coughed, remaining low as he crossed both blades in front of his face.
"That, that's Jay?" Kai whispered in Lloyd's general direction. Mostly under his breath to avoid his words being heard by any other. He was stunned at the sight before him, as was his sister whom he had to physically restrain with help from Lloyd, from rushing forward into the standoff. Her face had dropped as soon as it was revealed who she was seeing.
Oh god, Jay...
Cole narrowed his gaze to get a better look at the partially disguised man who was armed and ready. Having unsheathed both black katana in a deadly attack pose. A stance that didn't resemble any fighting style he had seen before.
What has he done to you?
Obviously, it was Jay, who else could it be? The visible mop of chestnut brown hair could be seen clear as day but the outfit he wore was something else. His blue gi was none existent. This one was all leather split tails and tight carbon kevlar under-garments that gave him fluidity in movement, as noted by the impressive acrobatic stunt Jay had just pulled off.
Surely if it was Jay, he would have said something, so Cole thought. But this was eerie. The man flicked his head from time to time, looking like he had a nervous tic or something. Whatever it was, Cole didn't like it. This guy was creeping him out with that solid enduring stare and the way he had jumped from two floors up to land without a broken bone on this unforgiving cold mezzanine floor.
Cole noted that this guy still hadn't spoken. But he was eyeing each team member up for size and weaponry. Cole thought that at a guess he was questioning which to fight first and which would be the easiest foe to take down.
"Last words?" Jay said. Far too quietly for anyone to hear.
"Jay?" Cole tried again. His stomach churning at the deathly silence. "Uhm, are you okay bro, J-Jay!"
"No, he's not okay." Lloyd hissed from behind. Grip tight on his own weapon. "Look at his face. He's already wounded."
"And, he's not talking." Cole frowned. "Jay, you know who we are, right?" He pulled his scarf down, motioning his team to do the same.
Nya was trying to stand forward. "Jay? We're here to bring you home."
"Strange last words..." He mouthed again, but the scarf hid his parched lips from view.
Having been about to hold her back from nearing Jay in his brainwashed state, Cole was unfortunately too slow. Before he even had a chance to do anything, Jay had used his practised moves against everyone. It was a given that Cole nor Kai had been expecting that little move because three of them had been thrown against the back wall by the force of it.
Cole grunted when he collided with the wall. He felt his head, his face, and looked back at Kai who was reeling off some choice expletives. A small sigh of relief, no injuries yet, just bruised egos. Both struggling to get back up. Cole staggered, leaning sideways against the wall, watching as Zane approached Jay. His purple scarf still covered his face. Only his hollow blue eyes could be seen, and they looked haunting. Nothing like the rich sapphire orbs they had all been used to seeing.
He looked up at Jay. It was Zane standing in front of him now. Trying to reason with him and it looked to be working. Zane had frozen him to the spot whilst he tried to talk, to understand and to communicate.
Crawling to his hands and knees, Cole steadily raised himself, to assist his brother, rather than expect him to face him alone. He wasn't close enough to hear the exchange of words that Zane and Jay were muttering but it didn't seem pleasant. Jay had his hand on the shuriken that Zane was holding firm, he had ripped it from his grasp, casting it aside before capturing Zane's neck in a lightning-quick move. In a matter of seconds, Jay's black blade was deftly cutting through the ice like it wasn't even there and before Cole or Zane had a moment to react, the weapon was lifted and the pommel of it was driven ruthlessly into Zane's face. Making a satisfying crunch that made Jay's eyes narrow and a crude smirk to appear on his partially covered face.
Cole cringed when Zane took a pommel to his face. The blow had made contact, leaving an unsightly dent in its place.
"God I hope that can be buffed out... You okay Zane?"
Struggling to get back to his feet, Cole had his weapons tucked away for the moment. He rushed to Zane's side as his brother had fallen backwards from the blow. Grasping his brother he checked Zane over for any glitching signs. Then from his position, he glared up at Jay. He could tell that his brainwashed brother had been confused by that move. Jay looked to be expecting blood, simply forgetting or not realising that Zane was a robotic lifeform.
Everything was spinning in Cole's head. His brothers were playing fair. Taking him on one by one. but it wasn't having an iota of difference. Kai had taken to using his weapon, despite Lloyd shouting not to. But he'd done it anyway. And, to make matters worse, he used his element to make the sword appear more intimidating. Cole didn't dare look, he had a feeling it wouldn't end well and he was right.
Cole knew that they needed a new tactic. He had fought Jay, hand to hand combat. Completely forgoing his weapons, he even managed to get a solid punch to Jay's chest, but that was it. Weapons were no good for this fight, well they were, but they were too risky an alternative. Director Fury himself had said that Jay and Hawkeye could be wounded. So the less lethal option would be better. Honestly, they had to try something. This was useless, Jay was beating them two on one and one on one.
And he still wasn't talking.
Lloyd was taking him on now. It was unbelievable to watch. Heartbreaking in a sense. Jay had no idea how much he was destroying his team's morale by beating the crap out of each of them. Cole had a black eye coming, a sore gut from a volley of punches and a very near miss of being skewered on Jay's black blade.
"Why, why is he d-doing this?" Kai grunted, holding his bleeding nose. "Doesn't he recognise his own brothers?"
"Here," Zane said. Offering some cotton wool plugs. "For your nose."
"You want the obvious answer, hothead?" Cole winced, remaining seated on the floor next to Lloyd who was nursing his head after hitting the wall. "He doesn't know who we are."
Zane shook his head. Glitching slightly. "Mind-controlled, ergo he does not have any idea as to who we are."
"Well, what do you suggest?" Kai said, distraught. Watching fearfully as his sister went up against Jay. He was the man whom up until a few months ago had tried to propose. Had even asked Kai's permission to do so. And here they were fighting like Jay hated her guts and she, for the life of her, didn't know why. "Please, Cole...do something."
It was painful to watch, to see her heart breaking with every hit she landed then every retaliatory blow she received back. She was fighting as hard as she promised she would, no holds barred. Nya tried to avoid his face, the very face she had fallen in love with. She tried not to look into his mocking blue eyes. And tried her hardest not to take it personally when he delivered such a punch into her midsection that hunched her over instantaneously. His foot remained on her back, pushing her further down.
He had no choice, he had to stop this. Cole winced as he crawled across the floor, finally close enough, he grasped Nya but not before receiving a hefty kick to his ribs. Cole pulled her to relative safety away from Jay's grasp and further harm.
Cole waited, stayed with baited breath as to Jay's next move.
But Jay did nothing, he crouched low. Weapons back to crossing in front of his face.
Cole quickly understood. Jay was guarding the staircase behind him. He was protecting the God upstairs. And by his actions alone, he wasn't sent to kill them, only prevent them from disturbing Loki's heinous plan.
Welp, they've found Jay. But then if you've been following the other story you already knew this. This is from their perspective, or more precisely, from Cole's pov.
Thank you for the reviews so far.