Okay, so chapter 2. I'm kind of winging this one a bit because unlike my current major story I have running, Iron Maiden, I didn't have a clear direction for this story. I know some things I want to do but if y'all have requests, shout 'em out. Also, I'm very loosely using concepts from the movies and switching a lot of things around.
As always, please review :) let me know if you want this one to continue.
~ "As much as I hate to admit it, if we're going to win this one some of us may have to lose it." ~
Kate turned away from the window as she heard voices raising from the other side of the room. She watched the two adults in the room argue back and forth as they had been for the last half hour.
"The only reason she isn't in the Raft with them is because T'Challa wouldn't implicate a kid!" Tony Stark was saying. "But if Ross decides to look into Germany, we can't protect her Nat! She's already on their radar because of those JSOC agents in Berlin."
"They don't have any proof that was her." Natasha argued. "She's fifteen, no one will believe that she's capable of that. There isn't any way that even the Secretary of State could get away with imprisoning her without definitive proof."
"I told Clint I would do what I could to protect her." Tony said, voice lowering a bit. "But I can't do that unless I have all the facts. Nat, what aren't you telling me about this?"
"She can't tell you." Kate said speaking for the first time since Germany. "She doesn't know."
Tony turned to her, eyes softening a bit, probably with a little sympathy considering her only family was in a supermax prison in the middle of the ocean. So far, he had been taking the news that Clint had a sister surprisingly well and was actively trying to ensure that she didn't end up behind bars. "Then why don't you fill me in kid?" He said.
Kate walked over to one of the work benches in the lab and effortlessly bypassed the security on it to bring up a projection of a dossier for them to see. Tony didn't say anything about her getting into the system as he and Nat stepped closer to look over the information. She watched the color slowly drain from their faces as they read through what she had brought them.
"This can't be right." Tony said quietly.
Kate pulled up dozens of other files. "S.H.I.E.L.D. did a good job of covering up their mistake in D.C. but Pierce was just the beginning. H.Y.D.R.A. is so deeply ingrained into society to society that no one would have ever seen it." She said. "And the loudest supporter of the Accords had an ulterior motive."
Natasha frowned. "Ross needed the Avengers out of the way." She said.
"It makes sense why he pushed so hard to reboot the super soldier program." Tony said scanning the files.
"Whoever this doctor is, Ross used him to activate Bucky to throw up a smoke screen." Kate said.
Tony's fists clenched tightly. "And we fell right in to it." He said. He looked at Nat. "We need to find them."
Kate looked at the billionaire, debating with herself. "There is something else that they could use to divide you guys." She said carefully. "It involves you directly Mr. Stark."
…
~ Kate followed Sam and Bucky out onto the tarmac where they rejoined the others. They ran towards the Quinjet, but a beam of energy came down from the sky cutting off their path. Turning her eyes up, Kate got her first look at Vision.
"Captain Rogers." Vision said in a commanding voice. "I know you believe that what you are doing is right but for the collective good, you must surrender."
As Vision spoke, Iron Man and the others formed the line blocking their path to the jet. Kate looked at Peter and saw he was watching her, his body language clearly conflicted.
"What do we do Cap?" Sam asked.
Steve Roger's voice was grim. "We fight." ~
"Check mate."
Kate Blinker out of her revere as she heard Vision's voice. She looked down at the chess board in surprise, but it only took a moment to realize she had indeed lost. "Dang it." She said. "Where did I go wrong?"
"Ten moves ago when you moved your knight here." Vision said patiently. "It weakened your King's defenses."
Kate nodded, taking it in critically. "I swear by the end of the week I'm gonna bear you at this game." She said with a smile.
Vision actually smiled faintly but they both knew if things went horribly wrong in Siberia then Kate wouldn't be there through the end of the week.
"Why did you stay behind?" Kate finally asked.
"Mr. Stark requested that I protect you should they discover your location before he returns." Vision replied.
Kate chewed on her lower lip as she thought about this. Natasha had to leave because she helped Steve and Bucky escape. Nat was going to be too hot for Kate to travel with her and it would just make her look more guilty, so Kate had to remain at the compound. So really Tony and Vision were the only ones who could help her right now.
"Could I make a personal query?" Vision asked.
Kate nodded with a shrug.
"How long has Clint been your guardian?" He asked.
Taking a breath, she let it out slowly. "Since I was pretty little. Technically, he's my half brother. We just share a father but when my mom decided she would rather put a noose around her neck…Clint made sure I didn't end up in some foster home." She said. "He's all I have left."
She had said the last words quietly, but she had a feeling Vision heard her.
FRIDAY alerted them to a Quinjet approaching. Tony was back, the question was if there was anyone with him.
…
~ Kate winced as she saw Peter knocked out of the air as Lang crashed to the ground. They were gonna be captured anyways so Kate ran over to make sure he wasn't dead after crashing through some crates.
Peter was lying very still. Cautiously she turned him over checking for a pulse seeing his mask pushed up, exposing half his face.
Iron Man landed near them suddenly. Kate tensed wondering if he was gonna fire but he seemed to understand she just wanted to make sure Peter was okay.
"He'll be okay." She said. Resting a gentle hand on Peter's shoulder, she offered quietly. "I'll watch him."
Tony nodded. He paused for a second. "There is a man waiting near here to take him back. His name is Happy, tell him I sent you to go back with Spider-Man, okay? I'll tell your brother you're safe." Once she nodded, he flew off. ~
Knowing Tony was a good guy from what Clint told her was different than seeing it during a battle. She had been shocked that he let her just get away and trusted that she was going to help Peter and not disappear immediately afterwards.
He had extended that trust to her, so she had extended trust back when she told him about H.Y.D.R.A. and the trust about his parents. She wasn't disappointed with the results.
Steve and Bucky both exited the jet after Tony. They all looked battle weary, but they were still in one piece.
"We received word twenty minutes ago that Zemo was turned in by T'Challa." Vision informed. "So far there had been no alert indicating they know that Captain Rogers or another else is here."
"Good, we need all the head start we can get." Tony said. "Cap, if you two can get to work on everything he can remember that'll be a good place to start."
Steve nodded.
It didn't escape anyone's notice that Tony wasn't talking to Bucky directly, but it was understandable. At least he wasn't trying to kill him. Baby steps.
Kate looked at Tony as he looked at her.
"Okay little Hawk." Tony said. "If we're going to get the bad guys and get your brother back, we have work to do."
Kate nodded. "Tell me what you need."
…
It was around 4:00am that Kate had finally given in to exhaustion after being up for nearly four days. She had vaguely been aware of Vision moving her to the sofa from the desk and covering her up with a blanket.
"Just let her sleep." Tony was saying. "She gave us a good starting place. FRIDAY and I will take over the rest."
"You know it won't be long before Ross is here." Steve replied. "Accessing these files, H.Y.D.R.A. won't let her just walk away."
Kate was waking up but kept her eyes closed and remained still so she could listen. She had yet to hear Tony and Steve talk to one another since they got back.
"Then we have our work cut out for us then." Tony replied flatly like the answer was obvious.
There was a long pause. "Why did you agree to let Bucky come back?" Steve asked finally.
The silence following that question was deafening. Kate was nearly afraid to breathe into the silence.
"Right now, he's the best chance we have of clearing everyone else from their charges." Tony finally spoke. "Clint is all she has left…I'm not letting H.Y.D.R.A. create another orphan."