Artemis stood on the stage at the Stark Expo examining the landing pad that would take off her and her brother's suits when they land "Artemis" Salt called over to her
Artemis looked up "yeah Salt" she asked.
Salt sighed "the Senate keeps calling" she said "you tell them off again" Artemis asked standing up
The US Senate has been trying to get the Starks to hand over the Iron Siblings suits but their assistants derail them every time "yeah but I don't know for how much longer" Salt replied
Art sighed jumping off the stage "anything else" she asked
"Hammer called asking for a lunch date, I told him no" Salt replied
Artemis laughed "that man can't take a hint" she responded "so how are you and Matt doing"
Salt blushed "good you know when Clint's not going all big brother" she told her and Artemis snorted at that "yeah well he's bored he's been training Casey a lot since me and Nat's been busy" Art said as they got into the car
Salt rolled her eyes "Fury did called and he wants you at HQ"
Artemis sighed and started up the car.
They got to HQ where they met Coulson and Amber "his office" Coulson said and Artemis nodded leaving Salt with him,
She got to the elevator and sighed as the doors closed. She rubbed her right shoulder and felt the visual effects of the palladium poisoning.
The elevator stopped and she headed to Fury's office
When she got there she saw him sitting at his desk probably playing online chess
"Fury trust me nobody can beat Grammy at chess she even beats Magneto" Artemis said making Fury look up
"I've seen you been slacking in training recently" he said "why is that"
Artemis sighed removing her jacket and turned around
"what the hell is that" Fury asked seeing the lines that run from the metal arm
" palladium poisoning for the reactor" Artemis said putting her jacket back on and turned back around "mine's not so bad but Tony is worse since his is so close to his heart"
Fury linked his hands together and put them in front of his mouth "who else knows" he asked and Artemis shook his head "just Tony" she said and Fury nodded "good let's keep this between us, the last thing we need is enemies getting ahold of this knowledge or for your teammates getting distracted worrying about you"
There was a knock on the "enter" Fury said and Nikko entered with Wade "sir you requested us" she said
Fury nodded "there's some cocky people who I need you to deal with" he said handing her a file "some are pissed because Agent Carbonell picked Agent Walsh, a newbie to be her replacement"
Nikko looked over the file with Wade looking over her shoulder.
Nikko smirked "how bad" she asked "just don't destroy my HQ" Fury told them.
Nikko smirked "come on Wade let's go get you some pixie stixs" she said leading him away.
Artemis turned to Fury amused "I'm getting Hawkass and Walsh out of here" she said and Fury nodded.
Artemis hopped into a vent and headed towards Clint's nest.
She got there and saw him reading a comic book "hey Nikko's about to unleash a sugar-high DeadPool, you want to head to the mansion" she asked.
Clint raised an eyebrow at that "yeah" he said. They then began crawling towards the entrance.
They got over some recruits that were looking at a female agent's ass.
They looked at each other and smirked. Artemis removed the vent cover and jumped down after Clint
They landed silently behind the two recruits and smirked ~stupid newbies~ they thought then round housed kick them in the face.
Coulson who just walked by with Hill and Salt smirked "It's a shame those two can't go undercover together anymore" he muttered and Hill nodded "but they can still scare the recruits" she said.
Salt shook her head as the recruits groaned in pain "come on I'm hungry" Artemis said leading Clint away "Salt come on" Artemis yelled and Salt followed them
They began looking Walsh "Casey come on I'm taking you out to eat" Artemis yelled.
A second later Casey dropped from the vents "we taught you well" Artemis said.
They then walked towards the exit "oh Coulson, Hill heads up is Nikko releasing a sugar-high Wilson in a few minutes" Artemis warned them.
The two nodded so the others left
After dinner Artemis dropped the others off at their house and headed to her mansion.
She parked in the garage and entered the mansion "welcome back Miss Stark" voice of Artemis AI Yinsen greeted.
Artemis created Yinsen when she figured that Jarvis couldn't help with two suits at the same time. She remembered the story Tony told her of his fellow captive so she decided to name him Yinsen "Hammer called again" Yinsen said "guy can't take a hint" Artemis muttered going to her lab
Artemis removed her jacket and began working on upgrades for her suit.
Artemis frowned at the silence that filled the mansion since Natasha's away on a mission, but even with her here it still was silent. She turned to a picture frame on her desk; it was of the trio after the Budapest mission, herself and Clint were looking over their broken weapons with a pout as Nat had her arms around their shoulders with a smirk.
Artemis sighed "Yinsen play some music" she said and a second later Animal by Nickleback began laying.
Artemis started to sing along
The next morning Artemis didn't sleep at all and Tony came in as Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing began playing.
Tony sighed hating seeing his sister like this since he's the only one that see's it. No one else see's how much it hurts her that the man she's in love with is with another girl especially when that girl is her enemy.
Tony walked into the lab and put his chin on her head "so whatcha doing" he asked. "Making Peter a nightlight" she said absentmindly.
Tony looked at the nightlight and smirked since when lite up it showed the Iron Siblings flying "it would be better if you add Captain America in there" Tony said hoping to get Artemis out of her depressed thoughts.
Artemis smiled knowing what Tony's trying to do "please Bucky's better" she retorted.
That caused one of the Starks siblings weekly arguments about who was better Captain America or Bucky Barnes. This one led to them play wrestling on the floor.
A few minutes later they stopped and Artemis went to her desk and remove the reactor from her palm to switch the cores
"how fast are the how fast are your cores going" Tony asked
"I need to change it every morning" Artemis replied
Tony nodded "so what's your mark V going to be" he asked and Artemis pulled up a design "a belt" Tony questioned and Artemis nodded
Tony looked at her "how would you feel if you would mind Pepper being CEO until Peter's 21" he asked
Artemis shrugged "I'm good with it" she said
They then went to working on the belt "there's a problem that needs the Iron Siblings" Yinsen told them causing them to smirk and headed over to the pad and suited up.
While that was going on Salt and Pepper were in the kitchen drinking some coffee while working on the siblings speeches
"So you and Matt good" Pepper asked and Salt sighed "why is everyone asking me that" she asked.
Pepper smiled "because we have no relationships and the only person we talk to that has a relationship is Rory and she always complains that Johnny is an asshole sometimes" she said
Salt snorted "ain't that the truth" she said just as her phone rang but she ignored it "Hammer" she said and Pepper nodded "half temped to let Grammy answer it one day"
Pepper laughed at that
A few weeks later the Expo was ready and the Stark's and their assistants were working on last-minute details "you guys have your speeches memorized right" Pepper asked and they nodded
"Artemis, your outfit is hanging up in your room" Salt said and Artemis nodded
"head to bed and Yinsen closed off the lab" Salt said
Artemis looked at her shocked "on whose orders" she questioned
"On Ms. Mercer's and Ms. Potts" Yinsen replied causing Artemis to mutter traitor
Artemis stood up and headed to her room.
Tony sighed watching her go since she been more moody lately.
Artemis got to her room and changed into a shirt she stole from Clint a few months back. She then laid down with a sigh and held her metal arm above her with the reactor facing her
Out in the hall Tony stood outside Artemis's door debating whether or not to check on her. But in the end he decided not to and headed towards his room
Artemis looked towards her window when it opened "what do you want" she asked him.
The man smiled "I seen pictures of you recently and saw you didn't look okay" he responded.
Art sighed as he sat on the bed with his back to the headboard "I should have figured you'd come see be when I announced I was Iron Woman" she said as the man pulled her to his chest.
Artemis turned and placed her head on his chest and began crying into his chest "I don't know what it is I mean I've been better at keeping my emotions in check" she sobbed.
He hushed her and rubbed her back "everyone has there breaking point but listen you're a great woman and any man would be lucky to have you" he said
Artemis laughed through her tears "oh that was corny coming from you" she said and he chuckled "yeah just don't go telling anyone I have a rep to protect" he said.
Artemis smiled snuggling into his chest "thank you James" she said falling asleep.
Winter Soldier sighed "you're welcome" he replied putting her head on her pillow, covering her up then leaving out the window.