Pt4
Director of SHIELD Nick Fury was feeling extremely frustrated. He had thought it would be a normalish morning when reports came to him that Rogers had brought in a guest with him to the tower. Upon first glance, it seemed Rogers had gotten himself a girlfriend, and not an incompetent civilian either, judging by her lack of reaction when Romanoff pressed a gun to her head. But then it turned out that this was not his girlfriend, but a young woman who managed to beat him in the boxing ring without a single hit landed on the Captain's part, and then temporarily disabled him for several minutes. This kind of talent could be useful, so Nick headed out to the tower to try and see if she was agent material. But when it turned out all of that was false, things went downhill. Here was a superhuman, at least part-alien, with undocumented abilities, who had not gotten on SHIELD's radar until she decided to teach Stark how to fly. She also had a grudge against Thor, had a father and half-sister who more than likely had abilities similar or even more powerful than hers, sympathized with Loki (the worst part was she raised valid point, they had not bothered to find out why he had tried to conquer earth or where he had gotten an army from). And her power was so similar to Loki it was disturbing, but on top of that, she had the same silver tongue, a companion that was more lethal than any animal on the planet, a Flerken in the form of a nudu, was an honorary Wakandan, had a very large supply of both gold and vibranium, and above all, could let others have her powers, which would then regenerate! This was a nightmare, and for once, Nick decided to make the call that the council would not know about this until the last second. He had learned the hard way that they were entirely too nuke-happy for his liking. New York may not survive a second attempted nuking.
On the other hand, the only evidence to her being a threat was her controversial methods of teaching unaided flight to Stark, which, admittedly, worked, as shown when Stark had flown up to the helicarrier with his Iron man suit still packed, an hour after he learned flight. That and Barton's phobia of her powers. But if he could get her on their side…
Nick had a plan. Not the best, and a bit crazy, but then again, the best ones were.
He sent out the signal. The Avengers were going to assemble.
First, of course, came Romanoff and Barton, a few floors down on the helicarrier. Then came Rogers, who was nearby enough, and Stark, who was going back to his childhood roots by flying circles around the helicarrier and whooping with joy. This was exactly why Nick didn't hire adrenaline junkies for a reason, but no, it was Stark, who he couldn't fire. Then came Thor, and lastly came Banner, fished out from somewhere in the wilderness of Brazil.
Fury really hoped the figurative fish would bite the bait so well laid out. "Well, why are we here?" asked Stark because of course it had to be Stark.
"I would like to introduce you to a formerly believed to be deceased member of the team. He was really just in a coma so deep it was mistaken for death. Agent Coulson."
Fury knew he was getting weird looks not only for the dramatics but because of the amount of information he gave out.
Phil walked into the room feeling as good as if he had never been stabbed. He didn't know what was in those smelly disgusting pseudo medicines Potter had given him but they work phenomenally. He was thankful that at least his nervousness was mistaken for not knowing what the team's reactions would be. He really hoped Fury trusted him through all the bullshit he had fed his superior.
Thor broadcast his emotions the most. "Son of Coul! You are well. I did not know Midgardian technology is this advanced in the healing arts. Lady Eir works at this speed on the best days." Thor exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'd like to know that as well. I'm missing something, aren't I?" Banner voiced to the group.
"Yeah. It's all pointing to one single person. Because our technology isn't this advanced."
"Is it?" Steve asked to clarify.
"No, it isn't. It's nice how my collection of life debts keeps piling up." And, of course, out of the shadows walked out the one and only Rose Potter.
Bruce Banner looked around the room, seeing how everyone else seemed to know who this woman was. A woman who Fury wasn't surprised had snuck aboard his helicarrier and hadn't exploded yet.
Meanwhile, Phil took use of her back being turned and her brief distraction. He signed over to Fury. Potter got into my office. Legitimate threats. Carrot and stick. No choice. Don't tell me anything big. Don't think I'm human. Like Stark. He clarified.
Fury signed back over let me deal. Good. He got the message. Unfortunately so did Rose Potter.
Before Phil could move, Goose pounced on him, a paw effectively covering his mouth. She then sat on him, so neither his hands not feet could move, most of her weight pressing on his stomach. Rose walked over to where Coulson was down.
"Huh. I'm surprised it took this long, really. I don't know how you do to inspire such loyalty, Fury, while still being such an annoying bastard."
"Well, for one I don't need to threaten murder in order to get information."
"Really?" Rose acted honestly surprised. "Huh."
"There's something I'm missing here." Bruce put in. Rose whirled, and something flew out of her wrists. And slammed Banner into the walls of the helicarrier, unable to get himself out.
She lifted her wrist to her mouth and said, "Experiment results positive. Hundred percent Vibranium can hold Banner and the Hulk."
Bruce barely wheezed, "what? help"
"Handy invention Princess Shuri of Wakanda was nice enough to help with. Pure Vibranium double throwing knives melded together by Vibranium thread. Thank you for only making it necessary for me to use five of them. They don't come cheap."
"Rose, what are you doing? That's just Bruce," Steve told her, hoping his words could get through where he knew his brawn couldn't.
Bruce was shocked. Here, in came this woman, with a much more lethal looking version of a black panther, looking like a Nundu he had heard in myths of, in one of the villages he had been in a few months before SHIELD. Now, she had him tied up and captured better than even Loki, and yet the only one doing anything was Steve, and he was talking to her on a first name basis, like an old friend.
He got his answer. "Yes, Steve. That's Bruce Banner. Wanted man in the United States of America, and as a citizen of that government on a vehicle above the soil of that government I have every right to detain him and complete a citizen's arrest until I can get him in detained format to General Ross. Judging by the animosity if not hatred between Nick Fury and Thunderbolt Ross, that will be indefinitely. And considering unless he dies in Hulk form Banner's basically immortal, what exactly am I doing wrong? Even more so considering we're on a floating hunk of metal in the sky, and while Steve and I would survive if this thing was blown to pieces by an oversized green rage machine with anger management issues, Goose would not, and both Stark and Coulson's chances are around fifty-fifty. As for the rest of you, well, I heard dying is unhealthy and not recommended by medical professionals. Take that as you will."
"Voila, you've mastered the art of gloating without revealing anything. Now can someone just do something already?" Stark asked.
"And why not you, Stark? Your little Loki 2.0 gave you some flying powers and possibly a bit more. My bow doesn't work in such close quarters and we already know she can catch my arrow even at point blank range, and Nat's bullets have more of a chance of hitting Bruce than Potter, even with her good aim."
"Well, see Legolas, here's the thing. First off, I like my powers and I would prefer to keep them. Especially considering they are pushing the shrapnel out of my chest. I would really prefer if I didn't have tiny bits of metal in my chest only kept out by my arc reactor. I nearly died when Stane took it out. I'd rather not have a repeat."
"Oh that and the fact that it seems the semi sentient power, I did mention that part, right? Well I think it likes you, so as of now, out of the five percent I gave you, unless I take it away, three percent seem to want to stay on permanently. It doesn't harm me, so unless you cross me, you can keep 60% of the power you have now for good with a high chance of passing it down if you manage to reproduce."
"That as well." Stark added.
"Steve?" Brice wheezed out.
"Rose already beat me up and put me off my game this morning, and that was under pre specified conditions and without her using any abilities a normal human wouldn't have. If it makes you feel any better, at least the Hulk won't get unleashed."
Bruce gave up. Rose grasped his head by his chin, and titled his head so he looked up at her. Really, the Vibranium was only around his throat, arms and left. It wasn't like she had thrown a full body net at him. "Banner, I have a deal for you."
"Remember what they say about making deals with the devil," Hawkeye suggested.
"I have no need for anyone's firstborn, I assure you. My godson is more than enough. As for you Banner, I can get rid of the Hulk. You'll be left as only a gamma scientist with Kevlar level semi-bulletproof skin unless I change my mind and you get a little burst like Stark. I can get the wanted posters down and you back your position and reputation. But this isn't something I can do without your consent, and you have to really mean it."
"Ross…"
"General Thunderbolt Ross and I have a mutual agreement. We both appreciate each other's ruthlessness to our enemies and from there stems the respect. I don't purposely cross him and he lets me get away with whatever and handles the cover ups."
"Doesn't that seem a bit one-sided?"
"I got Phil Coulson to keep a secret from Fury for five hours and give me certain information first without any brainwashing. I have my ways."
"Please" Bruce choked out.
Rose nodded. "This will hurt"
And it did. But it worked, and when afterwards, the Vibranium bonds were loosened, Bruce Banner, now fully human and feeling himself again like he hasn't felt in years, just said, "Transforming was worse. I owe you."
"Don't worry about that. The ones who owe me always pay up" Rose smirked in satisfaction.
A paper airplane fluttered lazily into the room. Rose unfurled it and read the message on the paper it was made of. "Bloody hell." Rose's face showed just how pissed she was. She left the room and nearly stomped out, seething. She walked down a few hallways to an office-like area, in the corner of which was a water station for agents that worked in that office area.
Standing by that water station was a blonde agent in her early twenties, getting some water. As she was about to go back to her station, she spotted Rose standing right beside her. "You!" the agent snarled with such ferocity all the other agents turned around to look, as the avengers, Fury, and Coulson, caught up to see what had enraged Rose Potter to that degree.
Rose had a completely calm and neutral extrusion on her face. "Me. How have you been? I've been meaning to catch up to you. Not many can cheat me out of what's mine."
"It was never yours Potter, and don't delude yourself into thinking it is."
"Why, Tory, haven't you heard? I always collect, especially from the likes of yourself. Didn't you hear? Little Drakie-poo finally got what was coming to him. I'm curious to see if his wife is any better."
"You murdered my sister and my husband!" the woman screeched at Rose.
"And are you really going to tell me they didn't deserve it? I gave them the option to surrender, just like everybody else. They died, you ran. You can only run so far before I catch up to you, Astoria."
"You…" Astoria began, before Goose snarled at her, Rose threw a rock at her, and she disappeared, getting teleported out.
"Fury, you really need to be more thorough with your background checks."
"See! I told you she was no good, she just admitted to murdering civilians!"
"Civilians with more blood on their hands than you and Romanova put together, Barton. I only get rid of those who deserve it." Then, once again, she left via Goose.
Bruce turned to his teammates. "Now can someone explain to me what exactly just happened?"
Steve sighed. Of course it was left up to him "Let me just warn you that Tony Stark can fly unaided and is even more of a nightmare to control. But it all started when I made a decision while under the influence of icee induced brain freeze…"
A/N: I redid the first chapter, well the prologue (what used to be the introduction) completely. SO go reread that because I did change some details. Or you can simply skip it. Either way, it is also extremely long, at an over 5k word count. This story is really progressing, but that first chapter took a while to rewrite, so I hope you can excuse the weekend update happening on a Sunday instead of Saturday. If you have any questions about the text, I do leave a lot of them, but only answer them a lot of chapters later, or any comments, please review. Guest reviews get really annoying because I can't respond, so please sign in and allow PMs if it's anything other than rhetorical, if you want a reply. Or you can just pm me. I respond within no more than a day anyway.
Thanks for reading, and check in for another chapter next weekend. I would do bi-weekly posting, but that would require shorter chapters, which I seem to be unable to do. Whoops.
Oh, and I nearly forgot. Anyone who wants to read more, and is willing to pay some feedback in advice for beta testing my story, please pm me, I work in google docs btw. Basically, if you want more early, pm me, I will let you have access to the google doc I work on, casually hoping for some feedback or even editing.
And go to my profile, check out What If? which is a collection of extras, and the one-shot reposts. Also, please note that although those omakes are going to be separate, I am going to have some in the main story as well. Why? They don't have any real bearing towards the plot, but they help to understand the characters because they will have all characters as canonical in that point in time in that point in the story, once I write them and move on more in the story, I don't edit them except for grammar. I don't do real planning for this story, I just write when I have ideas, not that I lack in them, thank goodness.
You can skip them, I will include warnings if anything is spoiled (and when it is revealed in the actual story). They're not from the actual story, just for fun. If any of you (even one. no bulk numbers needed) don't really like them that much (or just want more), I will post an actual chapter every posting day (Saturday, as of now) so two chapters when I post the Omakes. The next chapter will be one, just saying.