Chapter 29: Alarming News from All Sides
The next to arrive back was Vision, who greeted Wanda akwardly under Pietro's glare. Nat whispered something in Clint's ear seeming to point it out. The archer clenched his fist, he agreed with Pietro, Wanda wasn't old enough to date! Especially a robot created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. He turned to glare at Bruce who mouthed an apology. Peter was holding back his laugh and Harley just looked confused.
Rhodey was the next to return. He asked Harley how he was coping the reveal and promised his nephew that he was always there if he needed anything. He promised that everything would turn out all right even if everyone knew who he was at school.
Next came Tony and Pepper. They raced in and immediatley hugged Harley tight. Natasha smirked sadly. Wanda snapped pictures discreetly.
"It's gonna be okay, we have experience taking care of the nosy media," Tony told his son.
"Even if we take care of them my friends will still be mad at me!" Harley sobbed into Pepper's shoulder.
"I'm sure that's not true. They might be mad for a bit then they'll remember that it doesn't matter. If I'm wrong then they're not your true friends. But you'll have everyone in the tower no matter what happens. Remember that we all still love you," she tells him.
Tony gets up from the group hug to find Peter. The teenager is explaining to Aunt May that he'll need to stay a bit longer. Seeing Tony he quickly says goodbye and hangs up the phone.
"It's getting harder and harder to keep this from her," he says.
"You don't have too. You just saw that secrets come out eventually," Tony said.
"That secret didn't have to come out. I'm really sorry for what happened," Peter apologized.
"Peter I already told you that you don't need to be sorry. You got Harley out of here and was there for him when Pepper and I couldn't be. Thank you," he said.
"What do I do Tony? I can't put her in danger! I don't want to disappoint her when she learns I've been lying to her," Peter suddenly cried out. Tony knew they were back on the topic of Aunt May.
"There's no way that she'll be disappointed in you. Peter you've done so much for this city and all the people in it."
"I've still lied to her. I've put myself and her in danger," Peter sniffed.
"Well then, we'll have to tell her that someone's protecting you both. When we figure out whats going on with all this and everything calms down why don't we invite her to the tower. The team can sit down with you when you tell her. They've all been wanting to meet May for a while, and I think Natasha and Pepper are even a little bit jealous of her."
"They shouldn't be. You guys are just as much of a family to me as she is at this point, I just feel that I've been neglecting her because of that."
"You don't have too. Plus having another woman around the tower, one who's experienced in raising a kid, will make the girls happy."
Peter laughed through his tears at Tony's comment. "I'd like that. I think she might too."
"Do you want to help me find the twins? I need to thank them too. Especially for this!" Tony gestured to the red hair on Peter's head and his IronMan/Cap PJs. "I guess Pepper and Clint were right."
"Well did Pietro tell you how I got my revenge? Actually ask Wanda she'll tell you!" Peter laughed. He walked with Tony to the twins shared area on Clint and Natasha's floor. Pietro and Wanda were arguing loudly. Peter caught a few words including Vision, dating and stupid. Laughing he turned to Tony.
"You might want to be prepared. Pietro's a bit upset at Vision right now, Clint too probably. Since you and Bruce helped create him... Well," he trailed of and opened the door to the room.
Pietro and Wanda stopped arguing and looked at Tony. Tony smiled awkwardly, Peter scratched his head and quickly decided to walk out.
"I wanted to thank you both. Harley was able to cope with being revealed because of your actions. Honestly I'm a bit jealous of the movie night you had. Hot chocholate, grilled cheese, a blanket fort and a great prank!"
"Thank you," Pietro chuckled.
"Thanks, but I think you mean two great pranks. Pietro and Harley were webbed to the ceiling most of the night as revenge," giggled Wanda.
"Did you get pictures?" Tony asked.
"Of everything." Suddenly she looked away from Tony towards the door. "Steve and Sam are back. Someone is with them. He's confused and pained. I can feel it strongly from here," she said. In a daze she walked out of the room back to the main area. Pietro looked at Tony.
"I have something on my desk in the lab. It's labeled BARF, can you bring it to me upstairs?" Tony said.
"BARF?" Pietro snorted while speeding out of the room.
When Tony got to the common area Pietro was already there with the device. A dirty Steve and Sam were there as well. He looked at them and Steve nodded.
"We're all here. Tower meeting, now!" Tony demanded.
Everyone sat down so they could all see each other. Pietro handed Tony the BARF device. "Thanks," replied the inventor, "Steve first."
"We found him," Steve smiled sadly. "He knows who I am and what he's done. He's upset about it all. We don't have to have him stay if you don't want him too," he said to Tony.
"I'm fine with it. You told me the truth and I know it's not his fault. Tell me more about his condition," Tony said ignoring the concerned glances of Rhodey and Pepper.
"There might be residual effects. He wants us to put him down, he thinks he's hurt to many people caused too much pain. I told him that wasn't an option and he agreed to come with us. He's by himself on the bed in a locked room on my floor."
"Good. I think I have something that might work. This is BARF," Tony held up the device (AN: from the beginning of CA: CW) . "It allows one to go into their mind and recreate their memories letting them fix and cope with them. It can also search for any residual control. We also have Wanda's help to make sure it works."
"I would be happy to. We can begin right after this," agreed the witch twisting red energy around her fingers.
"Who's next?" Steve asked. "Clint and Natasha, any good news about other new tower residents?"
"Not yet," Clint sighed. "Bruce said he had something interesting."
"SHIELD is still running. I'm pretty sure they're the ones who sent the helicarrier to us in Sokovia. It's obviously someone Fury trusts and I think Hill knew too. (The woman was back with the army now.) From what I've heard they're responsible for most of the intel we've recieved on Hydra and taking down just as many bases as we have. They're likely trustworthy, but I'm wondering why we weren't told."
"I thought I took it all down?" Steve said.
"There are people who are stubborn. I'll reach out to contacts I still have. We'll find something and arrange a meeting. Finding Fury again may be helpful," Natasha said.
"Sounds good," agreed Steve.
Pepper spoke up, "I'll handle the media frenzy and finding out who revealed Harley. We'll need to figure out if it's safe for you to go back. It might not be safe for you to go back either," she told Peter. "Although how we explain that to your Aunt I'm not sure."
"I'm going to tell her," he announced.
"Finally!" Pietro exclaimed.
"After we handle this whole mess Tony said I could bring her here. That you'd all help me explain," he said. Everyone mumbled their consent and agreement. "At the rate things are going I think it'll probably later this week."
"Good. Pepper and I will dicuss school with you two later. Harley any concerns?" Tony asked.
The kid who was not usually included in big meetings like this looked at his father wide eyed, "No. Not really, just excited to hear some of this good news."
"Anything else?" Pepper asked.
"Yeah. Bucky asked for one thing when we brought him in. To talk to the red haired lady, Natalia Romonava."
"No. You're not talking to him, not till Tony and Wanda have cured him!" Clint said.
"Why not? He's not gonna do something," Sam said. "The guy isn't under Hydra's control anymore. They're gone now!"
"He might not be under Hydra's control but he might be under someone else's. What if this is a ploy to get to you again?" Clint said.
"It's not," Natasha assured him.
"Are you going to tell them what you told me? That is what Bucky was talking about, right?" Steve asked.
"Yes. Harley should probably leave, your parents can tell you what they think is appropriate later," Natasha said.
Harley protested, "Peter gets to stay!"
"Peter's several years older than . You should try calling your friends as well. Giving them a proper explanation. You can invite them over when everything calms down as well," Pepper said pointing to the door. Harley stomped out of the room. Then Natasha began.
I was born Natalia Aliavona Romonava in a small town in Russia in 1935."
"1935? That's not possible!" Peter protested.
"I'll explain. I had been taking dancing lessons for the past two years when someone reported my talents to the army leaders of the Soviet Union. I was five when I watched my parents killed in front of me and was forced into training at the Red Room. It was a secret orginization that trained young girls to be assasins. From the start we were trained to fight, with weapons and our bodies. Then as soon as the trainers thought we were old enough we were taught to seduce. Every few months the trainers called for a bloodbath. From the age of 6 till Clint found me I had to kill or be killed. You did something the trainers didn't like you died. We suffered all forms of torture, details that I will not go into. At the end the girl in her section that survived became The Black Widow, I was chosen at the age of 16. Then the Red Room gave me the operation, their own version of the super soldier serum. I became stronger, faster and deadlier than ever. I was also relieved of the ability to have a child, something I would never need according to my superiors," Natasha stopped and took a drink of water from the glass Clint offered. The others looked at her somberly.
"Then I was sent on missions. To attract men then kill them, to infiltrate orginizations, to send terror into hearts everywhere. After I turned 19 they started to put into a cyrogen chamber when I wasn't needed, each time I came back from a mission I was told to give a report. Sometimes I was put in a device to erase memories of what I had learnt from the outside world. I had no control over my thoughts or actions. The one thing I never did forget was my trainer. After I was chosen to become the Black Widow a man was brought to train me. We called him Yasha but he was also known as the Winter Soldier. Lets just say we became involved and it lasted for a bit before we were found out and stopped."
"So you and Cap's bestie are exes?" Tony said wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yes Stark, they're exes," Clint growled.
"I'll be fine Clint. Steve can come with me and then Tony and Wanda can do what they need to do," she assured him. Getting up she walked towards the door to Bucky's room. Tony and Steve exchanged glances and shrugged, following her. Wanda looked at Clint who was clenching his fists.
"She'll be fine. Pietro why don't you help Clint look through more of the files the adoption agency sent?" she asked. Pietro led Clint out of the room and the others dispersed as well.
Natasha entered the room and waited till Steve, Tony and Wanda came in before looking at Bucky. He was in a loose red shirt and black sweatpants. His metal arm was covered by the long sleeves of the leather jacket he wore over it but the gloves he usually wore were off. His hair was still long and straggly. He had scruff along the bottom half of his face and his blue eyes looked sad.
"Natalia."
"It's Natasha now. What are you? The soldier? Yasha? Bucky? James?"
"I don't know. It's all so mixed together. So confusing... I... So many people. I killed them all. How did you deal with this? Do you remember your missions? Do you remember the faces of the friends and others you killed? Children.. Women.. Friends.. Howard..." Bucky looked up and saw Tony. "Howard? How? You... I.. the car... and.."
"I'm Tony. Howard was my father."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Bucky said.
Natasha spoke up, "To answer your question I do remember. I still have the nightmares, I still feel the pain. I'm still scared that I'm under their control. But then I remember I'm not. I can help. I have red gushing from my ledger, but I've been wiping it out. I find the families of those I hurt, sometimes I speak to them. Sometimes I just help them without them knowing. I've joined a team and I help people everyday."
"How did you get away?"
"On a mission. I was sent to kill the SHIELD agent who was sent to kill me. I surrendered. I wanted it to end. But instead he brought me in and gave me another chance. You have another chance. You can turn things around," Natasha said.
"I can't. I killed so many more people. I was under their control for so much longer. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Don't," Tony said. "You already apologized. Plus, you weren't in control. Dad had a long life. He wouldn't have been mad at you for long. He would have tried to fix you. Because he can't I will. This is called BARF. I made it and with this and the help of Wanda here we're going to make you better."
"It's okay Bucky. You're never going to hurt someone against your will again," Steve said. "You're free of them."
