A/N: Hello everyone. Sorry for the delay, but I have a very long chapter for you today. As always I only own my plot and OCs. Thank you so much for everyone who is following/favorited. It is a huge encouragement to me. Thank you UnCTRLblyExcite for reviewing and I'm glad you liked the chapter and didn't choke on popcorn.
So enjoy my friends.
Chapter 27: Unbelievable horror and rage.
A/N: I realized I made a mistake in terms of the layout of Anya's apartment in chapter 23 (when Barton comes to find Romanoff). I went back and fixed that by adding a few sentences, but just to be clear her apartment has the kitchen in a separate room off the hallway just after the living room; so no open floor plan which I accidentally made it sound like in Ch 23.
*** DSB: 4 afternoon somewhere in New Mexico– TF ***
They had been in the car for a few hours and Tony close was to losing it. While the car was designed to sit five people it was not designed to fit five superheroes, well four plus one Agent. Despite the fact that he had claimed the front seat, Tony somehow was stuck in the back between Bruce and Steve while Thor sat in front. Thor, Bruce and Steve simply couldn't fit in the back. So since Thor was the largest person he got shot gun. Totally uncool, in Tony's opinion. To make matters worse Coulson had yet to say where they were going; he only said it was back east. Plus there was no music playing.
Tony was bored beyond reason. Bruce and he had discussed calculations for the transmission blocker for a while, but they had to stop. They didn't have anything to work with. They didn't even have paper and pen. Tony had lost his phone somewhere the past few days and Coulson, the only person with a phone, refused to hand his to Stark. Tony was about to start a fight with Capsicle when JARVIS called him on his earpiece. He had taken the communication piece from his suit and kept it in his ear for the time being.
"Sir, You informed me to update you on activities in the Tower."
"What is it JARVIS?"
"Sir, Miss Marvel just appeared in the tower, surrounded by an armed escort."
"WHAT?!" Tony screamed. Everyone but Coulson jumped.
"Coulson give me your phone." Stark demanded.
"Stark, I already said – " Coulson started, but Tony interrupted.
" – damn it Coulson! It's Anya! Give me your goddam phone and pull over!"
At the name of their sister, Coulson immediately did as Tony asked. They were, thankfully, on a back road with no one around in the middle of some desert patch so pulling over wasn't an issue. Tony wasn't even sure what state they were in anymore. Coulson quickly pulled out his phone and handed it to Tony. For once Tony didn't argue about being handed something.
Using the phone's wifi capabilities, Tony connected it to the Tower and JARVIS.
"JARVIS, pull up the feed."
"Right away, sir" Tony's AI answered on speaker phone. The video popped up just in time for Anya to step out of the elevator and be shoved to the ground in front of Loki.
"JARVIS increase audio and keep the camera focused on them" Tony ordered enraged to see his little sister at Loki's feet.
"Stark tilt the screen," Coulson ordered.
Tony handed the phone to Banner who was sitting to his right. Banner held it at an angle so everyone in the car could see what was happening. They looked in horror at what transpired. They each cringed when Anya cried out in pain as Loki grasped her shoulder. They were shocked when she used Loki to steady herself and walked over to the bar stool. Every one of them literally jumped when Loki ripped her shirt. Tony was planning ways to rip the god's hands off for touching his sister. Tony was pissed to hear how Anya had been injured. She didn't tell them about that the last time they talked. She only said they had Agent Barton back.
Then when Loki mentioned a debt, Tony almost lost it. While Anya had never mentioned anything about meeting Loki, Tony had seen the video feed from JARVIS. So he knew about the "debt", but to hear that bastard bring it back up enraged him.
Tony knew what she was thinking. She was thinking of others. What happened after that, however, almost broke Tony. He was already set to jump in his suit and fly straight to the tower after the exchange so far. But to hear Loki demand she become a slave shook Tony to the core.
Tony was slightly proud at his sister's immediate rejection of Loki's demand. He was more horrified because he knew Loki would not take no for an answer. Tony physically felt pain as he watched that damn man's hand wrap around Anya's throat. Never in his life had he wished he was somewhere else more than at that moment.
He wished he was there protecting her. Seeing her drop to the ground only to be pulled up by her hair was too much. Her short scream rocked him to the core. With Loki's next words he could feel his sister's fate sealed. She would never hurt others. She always put others' wellbeing above herself. Tony knew that from the beginning. So when Loki threatened to kill everyone she helped and enslave everyone she worked with Tony knew it was over. Tony just didn't realize how much he could break by seeing what happened next; Anya willingly kneeling before that monster and agreeing to be his slave. A small voice in the back of his head whispered to him that this was why he shouldn't care about others; shit happened, they got hurt, and so did he.
Tony mentally gave a cheer when she asked for a week to prepare. He groaned when Loki only gave her two days, less than that actually. Tony didn't notice until Anya was on the elevator that the hand holding the phone was pulsing green. He was too caught up in his rage and watching the video to notice anything or anyone else.
"Bruce," Tony warningly called his friend's name while grabbing the phone from him. Convulsing, Bruce ripped off his seatbelt and pushed open the car door, falling outside. It seemed that was the eject button because everyone else pushed their way out of the car as well.
Bruce was losing it.
"Deep breaths, Dr. Banner," Coulson said as he approached from the other side of the car.
"Stay calm, Bruce," Cap added. Thor and Tony remained silent.
Within seconds Bruce was gone leaving a very angry Hulk who thankfully still had pants on. "Puny god hurt girl!" Hulk roared. The Hulk looked like he really wanted to smash something but the only object, besides a few cacti was the car. As he headed towards it all four men stood in the way. That was, after all, their only means of transportation.
"Hey, big guy, take it easy. I'm mad too. Furious, but smashing the car won't help anything. It will actually hurt Anya."
"Dr. Banner, we are all angry, but smashing things won't help at this point." Coulson added.
"Man promised to protect girl!" Hulk shouted and let out a roar of frustration.
Thankfully, he did stop moving towards the car. The Hulk's statement surprised everyone. "Hey big guy, I know you want to help, but right now I need the man. Anya needs Banner. Later, she will need you. When it's time you can come and play, but right now it's not time." Tony tried to reason with the Hulk, who in his opinion was an overgrown five year old.
"Hulk angry!" Tony couldn't help but mumble "no kidding'.
"Hulk," Cap spoke, his voice radiating authority, "stand down. You can help later, but not right now."
The Hulk seemed to consider Captain's command. Letting out another roar he slammed his fists down into the ground. After a moment the Hulk shifted to back into Bruce - a rather exhausted and almost naked Bruce who was holding the shreds of his pants around his waist.
Capsicle was he first to react. He walked over to the trunk of the car and opened it up. He pulled out a duffle bag and handed it to Bruce.
"Here you go Dr. Banner."
"Thanks Captain, and it's Bruce by the way."
"Then call me Steve."
"Okay," Tony loudly interjected, "Now that we are on a first name basis can we focus? My sister is about to become a slave!"
***ATST in NYC AF***
Anya caught a glimpse of her reflection in the elevator doors as they closed. Her appearance, she decided, was equal to how she felt - defeated and shitty. Her work polo was torn at the shoulder revealing her bandaged wound with blood seeping through. Her neck was starting to turn purple in various spots. She had no doubt there would be a visible hand print tomorrow. Her hair, which had been put in a pony tail that morning, resembled a bird's nest. Add to that her shaking body and bruised face. Yeah there was no way she was going back to work that day. Quite honestly she was surprised she wasn't going into shock yet. Maybe it would come later. Then again, with everything that had happened so far – aliens invading, brothers dying and coming back from the dead- maybe she wouldn't.
Anya was heading to the subway when she realized her purse, which had her money, keys and metro card, were all at the CT. There was no way she could go there considering her appearance. Leaning against a random building she dug her phone out of her jean pocket and called Connor.
"Anya are you alright?" Connor asked, tone filled with concern, before she could say anything.
Anya struggled to speak, "No. I'm not."
"What happened? Where are you?"
"Connor could you do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Could you please bring my purse to Columbus Circle? I'll wait for you at the corner of Broadway and 59th."
"Of course! I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Thank you." She told him before hanging up and continuing to walk north to the subway. The only people in that area were military and recovery workers. When she was walking she actually had one military woman ask if she needed help. Wow, a New Yorker asking a stranger if they were okay and wanted help, that was a rarity. She refused the officer, saying she was fine, before continuing her short walk.
Either Connor had sped or she had walked extremely slowly because he was there waiting for her by the time Anya made it to the meeting point. He was standing by a grey H² recovery van looking around for her. When he saw her, his eyes widened in surprise and concern. It was nice, Anya decided, to have people care about you. He handed Anya her purse when she walked up to him, but stayed silent.
"Thank you," she said.
"Anya, what – " Connor started, but Anya interrupted holding up her hand. " Connor, not now. Sorry, but not now. I will explain at the office tomorrow. Please call everyone and set up a meeting for 9am. Okay?"
Connor just nodded. "Do ya want a lift?" he offered her.
"Sure. Thanks" she said accepting the offer.
The drive back to her apartment was silent except for when she gave him directions on where to turn. Within twenty minutes they had arrived at her apartment. Getting out she waved her hand in thanks before entering her building. Thank the Lord there is an elevator, Anya thought as she went up to her apartment.
As she stepped into her apartment, after unlocking the door, she was met with a gun in her face. Not again, was all she could think. The gun was quickly lowered as Natasha realized who had entered.
"Feeling cautious?" Anya joked as the red head had gone completely still taking in Anya's appearance. Anya shut the door and waited for the red head to respond.
"Who is it?" Barton asked coming down the hallway after he stepped out of one of the rooms. Barton's eyes went wide upon seeing Anya. Walking forward he stood next to his partner.
"Wow, you look like hell," Barton told Anya.
"Thanks," Anya sarcastically replied, moving around the two assassins and into her bed room. She dropped her purse, grabbed a change of clothes – her favorite Iron Man T-shirt and black capri sweat pants – and headed to the bathroom. She looked down the hall and could see the two assassins were still standing by the door looking at her.
Anya sighed, "I'll tell you after I get cleaned up."
They both nodded. Before she entered the bathroom she added, "Oh and please call in some take out. My credit card is in my purse." Truth be told Anya wasn't hungry but she knew she should eat something and by the time it arrived maybe she would be.
Showering injured was difficult and painful just like her life right now. It was fitting, Anya decided, not to have one simple or pleasant thing right now. Getting dressed after a rather rushed shower, she decided she was thankful that at least she wasn't alone right now. Natasha was a friend. Barton was…well a possible friend. That friendship would take some time. The guy had fought her twice and had left her injured both times.
After re-bandaging her knife wound, with the first aid kit she had left in the bathroom this morning; she slipped on her shirt and left the restroom. She stopped by her bedroom first, throwing her clothes in a hamper and grabbing her cell phone, slipping it in her pocket, before walking into the kitchen. Both assassins were sitting at the table and watched as she entered the room.
"Coffee is in the pot," Natasha told Anya as she entered the room. Anya nodded her head in response and moved to get a mug from the cupboard. She pulled out her favorite- a handcrafted ceramic mug that was painted a mix of green and blue colors – and filled it with the liquid gold. Anya hesitated staring at the kitchen chair. Deciding this might be a long conversation she left the kitchen and went into the living room. Settling in the small recliner - feet curled up beneath her and mug in hand- she waited for the assassins to settle; they had followed her out of the kitchen and were sitting on the small couch next to the recliner.
Anya didn't know where to start. So she took a sip of coffee and hoped one of them would ask a question. After a moment Natasha did, "Anya," she called her name gently, "start from the beginning."
"I was at work," Anya began, staring down at her mug, "when a military man held a gun to my face and told me Loki had summoned me. So for the third time in my life I was shoved in a black SUV." She took a sip of coffee. Looking up at Natasha and Barton she said, "Do me a favor and if we live through this, make sure SHIELD never sends a black SUV to pick me up."
Both assassins gave her a light smile and Barton nodded, "Sure kid."
"Thanks," Anya said before continuing. "Anyway, Loki wanted to know where you were Barton. He figured I knew that was why he 'summoned me'. He asked me that later though. He…he saw my bruise and asked me what happened. I told him I was attacked by a mugger. He didn't believe me." Anya took another sip of coffee and felt relief as the warm and comforting drink filled her. "He grabbed my shoulder, I guess to intimidate me, but it made me almost pass out because he hit the wound…. He saw blood on his hand and ripped my shirt showing the wound." She paused for a moment. "He demanded to know what happened and I told him it was you Barton. I obviously changed the events slightly, but he knows you were here. I told him you left after I told you I didn't know where Natasha was for the third time."
"Did he buy it?" Barton questioned her, concern in his voice.
"I don't know," she answered honestly, "he said, and I quote 'let's pretend like I believe you.'"
"What happened next?" Natasha inquired after Anya had been silent for a few moments.
"I dug my own grave," Anya answered bitterly looking at her mug that she was gripping tightly. Glancing up she saw both Natasha and Barton looked confused and concerned.
"Barton did you tell Natasha about my previous visit with Loki?" Anya asked. Barton just shook his head.
"Well, Natasha, the day after the battle I had a little chat with our new dictator."
"Why didn't you mention this before?" Natasha asked sharply.
"Don't be aggravated. I haven't even told Tony." The red head just motioned with her hands for Anya to continue. "Well immediately after the battle we, my organization and other groups, went into action helping those affected. Loki was informed of this, I am guessing, and demanded that the leader to be brought to him."
"And that leader is you?" Natasha inquired.
Anya nodded, " Yes…. So long story short I convinced him to let us continue relief effort, but the price was I owed him a debt."
"Shit" Barton cursed while Natasha said something in Russian that Anya didn't catch.
Anya took another long drink of her coffee and sought the words she needed. It was harder to talk about this than she had expeced, Anya realized. A small part of her didn't want to speak anymore and just shut down; the larger part, however, realized not only did these people deserve and need to know what happened but that it was good to talk about this.
"So anyway," Anya continued after a moment, her voice quieter and speaking at a slower pace, "I asked if I could go back to work and that led the conversation to where he remembered my debt…..he said that since Barton was gone he required a replacement."
"No" Barton softly cried out.
Anya looked up at him and gave a small nod before sharing her fate. "He is making me his slave." Barton was on his feet at those words.
"No! I won't let it happen." Barton sounded determined.
"Clint – sit down. She's not done." Natasha firmly told her partner.
"The hell she isn't. Nat, we can't let this happen."
"And we won't," Natasha promised Barton.
"You will." Anya spoke loudly glaring at the two.
"Excuse me? You want to be a slave to a psychopath?" Barton questioned her, his voice tight and filled with anger.
"Shut it Barton. Of course I don't, but it's not just about me."
Barton looked ready to argue, but Natasha shot him a look that told him to be quiet. "Finish," Natasha told Anya and then sat back down. After a moment, and a glare from Natasha, Barton sat as well.
"My reaction was yours," Anya said looking at Barton. "This," she said pulling the color of her t-shirt down and tilted her head up so that the bruising on her neck was evident, "was his response to my rejection."
"Anya, you're safe now. We will get you out of the city and to Stark and Coulson," Natasha told the girl. Clearly she thought Anya's fear for her life was her reason for agreeing.
"No, I can't leave," Anya said sternly.
"Why not?" Barton asked clearly angry.
Anya closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering, "If I don't become his slave then my debt is unpaid and our deal is forfeit. He said he would 'undo' my work….He…he promised to kill everyone we helped and enslave everyone I worked with." Anya could feel the tears spilling over her eyes. The gravity and the hopelessness of it all hit her anew when she told them. She opened her eyes when she felt a light hand on her arm. It was Natasha. Barton was sitting on the couch his hands in his head.
"It's not your fault," Anya told Barton after seeing how he was sitting.
"The hell it's not," he spoke into his hands
"Barton – it is better me than you."
Barton's eyes shot up looking at Anya, "What?"
"Barton, the Avengers need you, both of you, to fight, to beat Loki. Me? I'm just a recovery worker. My job can and will be passed to someone else."
"Anya," Natasha told her, "You are important."
Anya gave a small sad smile to her friend for still standing by her, "Thank you for saying that, but it's not true…. At least some good will come out of this."
"What good can come out of this?" Baron asked angrily.
"I'll be able to spy on Loki. I will be able to pass information on to you guys."
"You really think Stark or Coulson, or us for that matter is going to let you do this?" Barton asked Anya.
Anya put down her almost empty mug on the coffee table in front of her and sat up straight. "Listen to me clearly," she began staring at the two assassins, "No one is going to stop this from happening. The only way you could would be by tying me up and kidnapping me." Barton's facial expression seemed to say 'that is a valid option.' So Anya continued, "If you do that Barton, or Natasha, then you will be responsible for ending hundreds of people's lives. You would be responsible. Do you really want that on your conscience?" Both Natasha's and Barton's faces grew long and heavy at her declaration. Thankfully just at that moment the buzzer went off. Anya got up and went over to the door. She hit a button to let the delivery driver in.
Glancing over her shoulder she saw both assassins still standing there. "Shoo, go hide in the kitchen," she told them as she waited for the delivery driver to arrive. About five minutes later Anya had tipped the driver and was walking into the kitchen with the Chinese food. Everyone was silent as she passed out the food: Honey Chicken for Anya, Dim Sum Buns and stir fried vegetables for Natasha, leaving Shrimp Lo Mein for Barton.
Natasha was the first to break the silence, "Anya, one more question and then I promise we don't have to discuss what happened anymore."
"What is it?" she slowly asked before taking a bite of food.
"If Loki said you would be his slave, then why are you here? Or rather why did he let you go?"
Anya swallowed the bit of food in her mouth and took a sip of coke before answering,
"I'm here because I asked. I asked for a week to take care of the transition at work. He gave me less than two days. I have to be at the Tower with 'my affairs in order' before sunrise the day after tomorrow."
"Well that doesn't give us much time," Barton stated, mouth full of food.
"No it doesn't," Anya whispered more to herself than the others before taking another bite of food.
The rest of the meal was filled with a tired silence – not uncomfortable but just exhausted. Anya was washing dishes when Natasha spoke, "You know you are going to have to tell everyone else."
"Yeah, because there is no way in hell I am facing Coulson's wrath when he finds out." Barton added.
Anya smirked at that comment. Not because she didn't believe him but just the opposite. Sure she had only known her brothers for a few months, but they had grown close in that time. She had no doubt they would do anything to help her and they would destroy anyone who tried to hurt her.
Just then Anya's phone vibrated. Setting the last plate on the drying rack, Anya wiped her hands on a towel before taking her phone out of her pocket. It was from Tony and read: Skype now, with Birdy and Red too.
Anya sighed. "Well," she told the assassins, "time to face the music." She left them looking slightly confused as she went into her bedroom and grabbed her computer.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the Hulk coming in, well and the Tony time. Gotta say I love writing him, but then again I am a snarky individual myself. I know he doesn't say much in Avenger movie but I wanted to add a bit. Review tell me what you think of it. Of course I would love it if you would review period, favorite or follow. Especially follow. I am so close to 50 followers, it would be awesome to hit that mark.
