23.

Rome, Italy, 2016

Kass let go of Regina and the sisters stumbled to their feet, finally taking a good look at each other. Now they stood facing each other, Regina with her gun pointed at Kass and Kass with her gauntlets pointed at Regina.

Regina responded by spitting back a phrase in Italian - to which Kass replied in flawless Italian.

Next Regina tried German, also to which Kass responded fluently. Finally, she tried Sokovian Russian.

"I learned Russian, just for you." Regina spoke in a British accent.

"Aww, how sweet. I'll be honest and tell you it needs some work."

"Well, while we're on the topic of honesty: you're a lot shorter than I imagined."

"Uh, thanks... I think. Though I fail to see why that's relevant."

"What're those?" Reginia nodded to the gauntlets covering Kass's arms.

"Gauntlets. They'll blast you. My boyfriend's a bit of a tech genius - no, he is a tech genius."

"Ah, got a cute little boyfriend, have you?"

"More a 'handsome hunk' I'd say. And trust me, there's nothing little about him."

Regina cracked a smirk. "I like you." She lowered her gun.

While she lowered her weapon, Kass chose to keep her gauntlets raised. "So, care to tell me what the hell this is all about?"

"You came alone?"

Kass held a straight face. "It's just me."

"Good." She didn't elaborate.

"So, care to explain?"

"Our father is dead."

Kass's jaw tightened. "Don't call him that."

"Uh oh, is that some tension I sense?"

"Like you don't have any with a father like that. What am I doing here? Just get to the point. I'd like to make this as quick as possible, if you don't mind."

"Aw, and I thought my big sister would like to spend some time with me."

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On whether I like what you have to say, which I'm already not liking. And whether or not you try to kill me again."

Regina shrugged. "Fair enough. And just for the record, I wasn't really trying to kill you, not really."

"Well it sure seemed like it. And, just to be on the safe side-" Kass kicked the gun from Regina's hands, the weapon flying across the room. "I'm going to ask the questions here since you quite literally dragged me into this. Also you should have seen that coming." She raised her gauntlets at her sister, the tech glowing and humming, telling Regina that they were at the ready in case she tried something. "So what else?"

"In a hurry?"

"I'd rather get this over with."

"Well, I want to spend time with my sister."

"Yeah this has been fun so far, really great. Like I said, let's make this quick. I like to get to the point. Get in. Get the prize-"

"And get out." They spoke in perfect unison. Hmm, maybe they were more alike than Kass had thought - had been willing to let herself believe.

Regina's grin stretched further. "We think alike, Sister Dear. That's good, I like that."

"Carry on - Sister Dear."

"Even though he's gone, he's still got people working for him, doing his bidding." Regina wandered over to the window, peering through the crack exposed between the closed curtains.

Kass sighed knowingly. "The minions doing the dirty work."

"Exactly. He had a tight and extensive web of followers. And it's pretty ugly out there."

"Oh, I imagine."

"So are you with me?"

"With you with what? You're leaving a lot of holes in this story."

"Will you help me take the rest of them down?"

"How many are we talking?"

Regina shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Awesome. Come on, I've got a car waiting downstairs. We can talk more there. I don't trust us having this kind of conversation here, the room could be bugged."

"I already checked, it isn't."

"Well, great minds think alike, then."

"They certainly do." Regina scooped up her gun off the floor and waved it in the air. "Just in case."

Kass lifted her gauntlet-covered arm again. "Me too."

"Who is this old man?" Regina wasted no time in pointing her gun at Tony when Kass led her out to the car.

"'Old' man?" cried Tony.

"'Who is he?'" scoffed Kass. "Do you live under a rock? That's Tony Stark."

"This is Tony Stark? The Iron Man?" Regina pointed to him in disbelief.

"Yeah. And my boyfriend."

"Really? Damn girl."

"Yeah. Now let the old man go."

Now Tony shot her a look of pure betrayal as Regina let him go as requested. "Thanks, Dear."

"Anytime, My Darling. Tony, this is my sister, Regina." Kass introduced.

"A pleasure."

"So much for coming alone." Regina tossed her bag into the backseat, climbing in after it.

"He insisted."

"Cute."

Suddenly, a beeping came from Regina's bag. She withdrew a little device and cursed in Italian.

"What?"

"They've found me."

"Who?"

"Some of Dad's old friends."

"Please stop calling him that. The ones you were talking about?"

"Some of them, yeah. I was tracking them, and they were likely tracking me."

"Awesome."

"They're after this-" Regina reached into her bag and held something up. "Special tech. Adamantium based and powered."

"Ada-what?"

"Adamantium."

Kass and Tony only exchanged a glance.

"Don't look at me," said Tony.

"Well I am Mr. Self-proclaimed Genius."

"The strongest metal in the world." Regina stared at them like it was not only the strongest, but also the most obvious thing in the world.

"No, that's vibranium. Comes out of Wakanda."

"Well this is stronger than even vibranium."

"Well damn. Where does it come from?"

Regina shrugged. "This bit was found at the bottom of the ocean."

"And you stole it," Kass stated.

"Yes."

"From them."

"Yes."

"Of course you did."

"Like sister like sister," said Tony. "I'm beginning to see how the two of you are related."

"Seriously you two, I'm adamant about the adamantium."

"Hilarious."

"I'm serious. This shit is powerful. There's not much of it and it's in high demand." The device beeped some more, and Regina cursed again. "You're going to want to start driving, old man."

"I'm not that old!"

A car flew around the corner behind them, heading right for them.

"Tony, step on it!"

"Right. Hey F.R.I.D.A.Y., you with us?"

"Right here as always, Boss."

Regina visibly jumped. "Who else did you bring along? Against my good wishes."

"That's my A.I.," Tony stated proudly.

"Yeah, brag about it later, right now drive!" cried Kass.

With that, Tony stepped on it.

Yes, I did make an Atlantis/Namor reference there ;) I really hope we get Atlantis in the MCU, that would be so cool! And yes, I'm still taking inspiration from the 'Black Widow' trailers.

Also, I imagine Sofia Pernas as Regina :)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed as always! :)