The next chapter, enjoy! Not a lot of Elijah, but I hope you like it anyway.
Thanks to Senema for her great beta, the story would be a lot harder to read without her. All remaining errors are my own.
Chapter 14
Tajo found the tour of the house interesting, mainly because it was kind of a preview of what he might be in a few centuries, if he survived that long. Then Elijah showed them the property and Tajo saw the undisguised pride that Elijah felt for the achievements of his property.
The only thing that made him a little nervous were the watchful looks that every one of Elijah's workers kept giving him. Well, everyone here clearly knew he was a vampire. Otherwise, he couldn't complain about the hospitality. His room had a small refrigerator that held several blood bags in case he got hungry.
When, at the end of the tour, T'Challa ordered him to come along to check the status of the search, he was pleased. He felt a little out of his element here and being able to do something he knew about made him feel more relaxed.
T'Challa started a conversation with the driver, who answered his questions quite frank. What Tajo noticed, however, was the occasional mylord that slipped out when the driver spoke of Elijah. He remembered the maid who had addressed Elijah in a similar way.
Of course, T'Challa also noticed this. "I didn't even know that Elijah belongs to a noble house."
For the first time the driver hesitated before slowly answering. "Not as you understand it, but in a sense he's just as much royalty as you are." He smirked slightly. "In fact, he's even more blue-blooded than you."
Both Okoye and T'Challa looked puzzled and somewhat incredulously at the driver. Tajo grinned furtively. The driver was right, of course, because Elijah was one of the creators of an entire race.
Before T'Challa could follow up, they got to the plane. Tajo was impressed, even on the ground the plane was not easy to spot if someone didn't know where it was.
"Do you want me to stay here or should I come back at some point?" asked the driver.
T'Challa thought about it for a moment. "If you could come back in an hour?"
"Of course" the driver readily agreed.
The three Wakandans got out and the car drove away.
T'Challa still looked thoughtful. "Okoye, could you check the area? When you meet someone, be polite! I can imagine that Elijah gave the order that someone stays to keep watch just in case."
"Yes, Your Highness", Okoye replied calmly.
Tajo focused briefly and heard the heartbeat of at least one other person who was nearby, but of course he had to keep this knowledge to himself.
He went to the tailgate of the plane and checked to see if anyone had tried to enter the plane, but the security system reported no incidents. Tajo entered the code and the tailgate opened.
T'Challa joined him. "How does it look?"
"No security breaches", Tajo reported calmly.
T'Challa looked satisfied. "Good to hear. Let's go into the cockpit and leave the tailgate open."
Tajo obeyed. The two men went into the cockpit together and Tajo sat in the pilot's seat. He booted the systems but left the camouflage intact. T'Challa sat down next to him and checked the displays.
The cockpit door was left open and both men kept one ear open to hear if anyone got on the plane. Of course, Tajo couldn't tell T'Challa that no one could approach the plane without his knowledge. Sometimes he wished he could tell T'Challa what he was capable of. However, Damon had made it clear that he should never tell anyone, who doesn't belong to the supernatural world, that vampires existed.
T'Challa swore softly when he saw that the national borders were still tightly guarded. He could also see that the search grids were no longer concentrated on the ocean and that these were carried out very methodically. "Apparently they really want to get us."
"Yes, but so far they are looking only in the coastal area. We will know whether we are safe when they concentrate their search further into the country", said Tajo quietly.
T'Challa nodded seriously. "Check the systems that there is not the slightest electronic hint to us."
Tajo nodded and got to work.
Less than half an hour later, Okoye came back from her patrol.
T'Challa turned to her. "How does it look?"
"Six guards are posted around the aircraft to secure the outer perimeter." Okoye looked reluctantly impressed. "The positioning of the guards is seamless and the guards are on alert. Each of them spotted me in time, even though I approached quietly."
By Okoye's standards that was glowing praise, as Tajo knew.
"That sounds good", said T'Challa with a smile. "How did the guards react to you?"
"Polite and not in the least offended that I checked the perimeter", Okoye replied curtly.
"Another good sign", muttered T'Challa.
"Yes, apparently, we can trust Elijah at least to the extent that our safety is important to him", said Okoye blankly.
"Still suspicious?" T'Challa said with a smile.
"There are still things he doesn't tell us about himself", Okoye said stubbornly.
"I am aware of that, Okoye, but I see no need for action. Elijah has a right to his privacy and to respect it is the minimum of kindness we owe him for his hospitality." T'Challa's voice was serious and Tajo knew as well as Okoye that he had just given them an order as their king.
"Yes, Your Highness", Okoye replied promptly, even if not exactly enthusiastically.
T'Challa smiled finely but didn't react to it. "Okay, Tajo, you can shut down the system again. Okoye will accompany me to one of the guards so that I can at least thank one of them for everything."
The two left the plane together, while Tajo was left alone. When he got off the plane, they weren't back yet. Tajo closed the tailgate and activated the security systems. Shortly afterwards T'Challa and Okoye came back and a little later the jeep came to take them back to the house.
xxxxx
Clint spent the entire afternoon playing with Cooper and Lila, which was the best medicine for him after his horrific experience. The children were happy that their father was back and with them. Laura watched the hustle and bustle of her family in amusement but held herself apart because she wanted Clint to have the full attention of Cooper and Lila.
But Clint was quickly exhausted, he was still not fully recovered from his captivity. He apologized to his children and explained that he would like talk to Laura in private.
Laura took him to a nice place that she had discovered and where they were completely undisturbed. They sat down on the bench that belonged to it and looked over the peaceful property.
Clint took a deep breath and put an arm around Laura's shoulders, who cuddled up to him with a sigh. "I am so sorry that you were put in danger!"
"You don't have to be sorry, you are not at fault at all. We would never have been in danger from Hydra if Tony Stark hadn't betrayed us so ruthlessly", Laura assured him. "Also, after Steve called, we talked extensively about everything and you left with my knowledge and blessing. The report on television however was quite one-sided, please tell me what happened."
Clint gave a meticulous account of what had happened at the airport before and during the fight and how it came about that the real Avengers had decided to split up.
"So, a few of you had to stay behind to help Steve and Bucky, who had the best chance against five winter soldiers, to escape", said Laura thoughtfully.
"We couldn't all win and the mission was more important", Clint said with a shrug.
"So, you were the selfless and decent man I married", Laura said with a faint smile.
For a few minutes they were more preoccupied with kissing than talking.
"I so needed that", Clint said with a sigh. "The afternoon with the children and this time with you."
"It was bad in the raft, wasn't it?" Laura asked sympathetically.
"Yes, it was." Clint looked over the property again and Laura could see him swallow hard. Finally, he took hold of himself and quietly began to tell Laura about the raft and their treatment there. He also shared how he and the others had supported and stood by one another.
"As annoying as it is sometimes when you show your stubborn streak, I am so glad for it on such occasions", said Laura, laughing softly.
Clint joined in the laughter and he felt the tension, he had been under for the past few days, finally ease.
"When Ross came to me and said that you had disappeared without a trace and that blood was found everywhere, I almost went nuts", he confessed quietly after they had gotten serious again. "What happened?"
Now it was Laura's turn to take a deep breath and tell her story. She reported how Elijah had appeared out of nowhere and killed an entire detachment of hydra agents. Then their escape before the hydra agents could get reinforcements and the measures they had taken to avoid being followed. Their arrival at Sunnydale Manor, with Clint shaking his head and laughing softly at the name, and how they had contacted Steve to organize his rescue.
"You can't imagine how relieved I was when this guard came in and brought Elijah's message to me", said Clint afterwards.
"What message?" Laura asked curiously and Clint told her. "He didn't tell me anything about that."
"Maybe he didn't know if I would get the message in time", Clint said with a shrug.
"Perhaps. Has anything else happened that I need to know?" asked Laura.
"Yes, on the flight back." Clint told her about what had happened between Wanda and Elijah.
"Damn it, poor Wanda", said Laura pityingly. "No wonder she looked so battered. What do the others actually know about Elijah now?"
"Well, far too much for his liking." Clint laughed softly. "They know almost everything but not that he's a vampire."
"We should discuss our story so that I don't contradict you or Elijah about anything", suggested Laura.
Clint nodded and told her that too, while Laura listened carefully and took note of everything. "But now let's get to the most important thing, how should we proceed?"
"I think we should stay here until the dust settles a bit", said Laura. "The kids love it here and I feel safe. And Wanda and you will also benefit from having Shana to talk to."
"Agreed", answered Clint. "But what after? T'Challa offered us asylum in Wakanda. What do you think?"
"It is a possibility." Laura considered for a while. "What else?"
"I could try to make a deal with the government so you and the kids could go back to our farm", Clint suggested.
"What would it cost you?" Laura asked uncertainly.
"Prison, but maybe just house arrest for several years." Clint grimaced, he didn't really like the idea, but he would do it for Laura and the children. "So I could always be close to you and protect you if more of my enemies should come up with the idea of using you as leverage against me."
"I would love to murder Tony Stark", said Laura grimly.
"Well, if you wish." Clint grinned. "Remember, you are married to a master assassin and killing Stark would be considered a service to humanity."
"Don't worry, I don't want you in any more trouble", Laura waved him off. "But thank you for this lovely offer." She kissed him deeply.
Clint sighed. "Otherwise, I would only see a life on the run, but I would never expect you to come with me."
"I know." Laura sighed. "You'd like to keep helping Steve, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, I would like to", Clint freely admitted. "But I promised you that I would stay home and I would never leave you unprotected."
"We now have a few weeks to think everything through. Maybe there will be another solution." Laura kissed Clint on the cheek. "Now let's talk about other things!"
The couple sat on the bench until it got dark, chatting about all sorts of things with occasional interruptions, where they just kissed and cuddled.
xxxxx
Pepper Potts hung up the phone thoughtfully. "Okay, Tony, who did you piss off this time?" She mumbled softly, then pressed the voice connection to her assistant. "Is Mr. Stark in the house?"
"He's down in his workshop", she replied immediately.
"He has to come to me at once, and please inform our in-house lawyer that he should come to me, too", Pepper ordered. "Has a parcel been delivered by a courier?"
"Yes, Miss Potts, he came from the court and I signed for it", said the assistant.
"Ok, bring it to me and then make the calls", said Pepper and sighed. This way, she could get an overview of how great the difficulties were in which Tony now found himself in once more.
Of course, the lawyer was the first to show up, even though he was based in a different office building but no sign of Tony.
Pepper was angry enough already after reading the delivered information and now she saw red. "Where's Mr. Stark?" she asked her assistant, who was also in the room.
"He said he would come right away", she stammered, she had never seen Pepper so pissed off.
"Friday, connect me to Tony right now!" She commanded in an icy tone.
"Hey Pepper, I feel like ..." Tony started babbling.
"Get your unreliable ass moving and come to my office right now!" Pepper interrupted him and cut the connection.
The lawyer and assistant exchanged astonished looks.
Within a few minutes, Tony came in. "How dare you talk to me like that?" He yelled angrily at her.
"I can talk how I like to someone, who has just received multiple class actions for sexual harassment, severe breach of contracts, fraud, intellectual property theft, unfair competition and a few other things", Pepper said icily.
"Leave it to the lawyers to take care of it", Tony said disinterestedly.
"I'd like to, it's just that our usual lawyers are bringing these lawsuits against us, pro bono", said Pepper with a malicious twinkle in her eyes. "Virtually everyone you wronged in the last fifty years of your life has reported you.
And all these lawsuits have one thing in common, your personal presence is mandatory for all of them. It looks like you won't get around to building any suits for the next few months and years because you'll be spending them in courtrooms. So tell me Tony, what have you done now?"
"Nothing that matters and they cannot defend themselves against it anyway", Stark replied arrogantly. "Let's just throw money at people, they'll pull the actions back."
Pepper smiled and handed the in-house lawyer documents, which he leafed through and grew paler and paler. "I'm afraid that won't work, Tony, not with the sharks that usually work for you! Since you are being sued privately, our in-house lawyer cannot help you either. And as I said, all the top lawyers are already taken, so prepare to pay millions in reparations."
"All court hearings will be public, which means massive damage to Stark Industries' image. You should notify the managing board", the in-house lawyer urged. "When the public finds out about all of this, there will be hell to pay."
"I think, Tony, we should break up again. I didn't even know a fraction of all of this and I find myself unable to be with you any longer." Pepper's voice was frosty. "In future, we should concentrate our contacts on purely professional matters. Goodbye, Tony! Megan, please escort Mr. Stark out!"
Megan smirked and everyone could see she was enjoying her next words very much. Too often she had been insulted, primitively harassed and molested by Stark. "Are you coming with me, Mr. Stark, or should I notify security that they'll kick you out of the office?"
Stark had turned pale by now and looked as if someone had hit him with a hammer. "But, Pepper", he said tearfully.
"Get out, I don't want anything more to do with you", said Pepper even more frostily. Why had she ever liked him anyway?
Megan grabbed his arm and led him out. As soon as he left the office, Pepper turned to the lawyer. "We should talk about damage control now."
The lawyer nodded seriously and the two began to make plans in this regard.