It...has been a long time. Hopefully, you all read the author's not I posted exactly a month ago. Senior year of high school was not fun, to say the least. But like I mentioned in the last chapter, this chapter goes in-depth into the fight between Barton, Tony, and Daniel. There aren't any flashbacks for sure, and Daniel's POV lasts way longer than it should. Please accept my sincerest apologies for my supposed abandonment of this story. Please continue to support it, give reviews, and follow/favorite.

Title: Corpse Flower

Rating: M

Summary: My mind is a dark place, an endless abyss filled with horrors that no sane person could ever dream of. Everything I care about is gone, and I am constantly on the run as I struggle to control my demons. But my dark past is rapidly catching up with me, and my sanity continues to slip by the day. It hasn't helped that I'm now stuck with a bunch of egotistical superhumans, either. I just hope I don't end up killing them, too.

Warnings: Schizophrenia, Extreme Gore, Masochism, Sadism, Torture, Graphic Descriptions of Illness, Graphic Descriptions of Corpses, Slight Necrophilia, Hallucinations/Delusions, Unreliable Narrator, Twisted Morals/Sense of Right and Wrong

Author Notes: Heed the warnings, as always. There's definitely some moral issues and unreliable narrator in here. There's also a little surprise with Tony, too. A bit more character development...he's finally showing his true colors.

Please review.

The human mind is truly the scariest thing of all.

Tony crouched over the trembling, snarling boy, being careful to keep as much distance as he could between Daniel's teeth and his skin.

"Daniel, why don't you come and help me with this little bird?"

My heart was pounding, a dull and aching thud trapped in the cage of my chest. My legs felt like they were suspended in some gelatinous fluid, and my breath was shallow and hoarse. I could pass out any minute, any second.

With a groan, the child turned his head to fix a piercing stare on the older man. Tony had to restrain a shudder—while Daniel's eyes were still their normal ice blue, there was such a dark emptiness in his gaze that couldn't help but make the scientist be on edge.

The boy had innocent little demons in his eyes, and they recklessly played with matches.

I've never seen sparks so pretty. Have you?

You fool. Haven't you noticed? I've become the demon I feared so long ago.

The scientist watched as the raven-haired male coughed violently, bending over to bring up strange green-flecked crimson fluid. Aside from the bizarre coloring, it looked like normal human blood. Maybe analyzing it further would—

Stay on track, Tony. You need to handle the situation in front of you.

Right. There was an angry, bleeding, and armed—well, kind of—government agent who had an extremely fierce revenge streak. He needed all the help he could get taking him down, especially with a bruised and not fully functioning body that was drowned—ever so slightly—in the effects of the malt scotch he favored close to his chest so dearly.

Daniel moaned again, but it was followed by a deep growl. Stark was hoping it was just irritation at being woken up and not the growl that preceded the presence of the bloodthirsty, supposedly flesh-eating beast. He was still glaring at the scientist before him, and Tony made himself believe that the look meant something else.

"Daniel. Can you hear me?"

The boy bared his teeth and looked away, taking in the contents of the room that Tony wasn't blocking from his view with an air of haziness. He seemed to have forgotten where he was, but that was the least of the scientist's worries.

"Hey. Daniel." Tony snapped his fingers, remaining headstrong even as that disturbing glare was fixed back on him. "I need your help, okay?"

Lips twitching into a frown, the boy looked genuinely confused as he peered at the scientist's face. Tony noticed the dark-haired male's eyes were glazed over and a faint sheen of perspiration had appeared on his skin.

"Look at me, Daniel. Can you hear me? Look at me and focus." Tony knew he didn't have much time, but what he did know was that Barton had the curiosity of a toddler. He loved getting into things that didn't concern him and loved to snoop in other people's belongings—no matter if they were personal or not. That realization alone bought Stark just a bit more time until his hard-wired assassin codes of conduct kicked in.

Tony grimaced and dared to shift his weight, keeping his hands in front of him when the boy gave a disturbed and frightened snarl. "Easy. I just need you to help me, alright? We have to get Barton out of the way before he hurts you."

"Hurts...me...?" Daniel coughed harshly and his shoulders trembled in a broken laugh. "Can't hurt me. I'll hurt him."

"No killing, okay?" When the boy didn't respond, the scientist moved a bit closer and stared pointedly at him. "Daniel, are you listening? No killing unless you want to make this situation worse."

The fire was eating him alive.

"I...I don't want to hurt anyone." Daniel was trembling even harder now, his eyes narrowed to slits and his teeth digging into his bottom lip. That strangely-colored blood began to stain his skin, and his breathing was harsh and heavy. His lips moved to form unintelligible, murmured words that had Tony wondering who the child thought he was talking to.

With a sigh, Stark moved his body to block the archer's view of the boy. "You don't have to hurt anyone. Not if you choose to."

Moving without warning, Daniel's body lurched forward and his hands were digging into the goateed man's arms. His exposed talons sunk deep into the scientist's flesh, drawing blood and making the man grimace in pain.

A chill went down Tony's spine as those two endless ice-blue eyes bored into his own. He listened as the boy muttered words to him, his breath catching in the back of his throat as the threat went unspoken.

Tony felt more than heard the breath Barton sucked in when Daniel cried out and doubled over once more, the tremors that had disappeared for a mere moment returning, as violent as they had been before. The temperature of the room dropped beyond skin-numbing levels, and both Tony and Clint were both shivering harshly.

"Daniel, I know you can fight this, or him, or whatever it is that's been hurting you," Stark murmured, leaning close to the boy—enough that the incensed agent behind them could not hear a word. "You can and you will. Both of our lives depend on it."

A low growl escaped the raven-haired man's throat as he narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, his lip curling back to expose razor-sharp teeth. "I'm not alive, you stupid scientist. I haven't been for...a long time." He twitched and glanced away, rocking back and forth and mouthing unheard words once more.

"Stay focused, Daniel!" Tony hissed, forcing the boy to meet his gaze once again. "If you want to stop running for your life everywhere you go, then you will help me—no, help both of us—and get rid of the government agent who's been sent to kill you. Understand?" When Daniel snarled and bared his teeth, Stark narrowed his eyes and dropped his voice to a low rumble. "Do you understand me?"

Something menacing shone in the raven's eyes as his lips curled back into a gruesome smile and he nodded. "I understand completely." The grin developed a maniacal, feral edge to it as Daniel vanished from view and appeared near the archer.

It was at that time that Tony realized innocence was gone, and what was right was now wrong. There was more than blood that flowed through that boy's veins, and his poisonous influence would soon spread to infect everything around him.

He just hoped he was strong enough to stop it from corrupting him.

My vision was stained with darkness, and crimson lapped at the edges of my peripheral view.

I felt strange. Empty, but whole. Satisfied, but yearning. It was like there was some strange warmth nipping at my skin, enough to make itself noticeable but not enough to make me uncomfortable or irritated.

Just what exactly was this feeling?

Focus, my boy. Your so-called comrade has asked for our help.

Help with what? It was so calm here, so comfortable. I didn't want to move. I wanted to stay right where I was. I was trapped in a beautiful nothingness that enveloped me in an everlasting, unrelenting grasp.

Do you want to kill this man? To be stained with the blood and immaterial viscera of yet another human?

What?

Then pay attention!

My eyes fluttered, and then I realized that I was standing half bent over, my chest heaving with harsh breaths and something warm trickling down the side of my face. The warm wetness reached the corner of my mouth, and against my better judgment I stuck out my tongue to taste it.

A rush of pure, feral desire overcame me, and I groaned and swayed on my feet. What was that? It tasted so good...

You really have no common sense, do you? You know what you just tasted. And you want more, don't you?

No, I—

"Eyes on me, ice-boy!"

My senses screamed at me and I moved to the side to narrowly avoid an arrow that, in missing its target, collided with the wall. I watched with a curious and suspicious eye before as the arrowhead unfolded and stretched out in some strange mechanical device, and an ear-piercing screech filled the room. Almost immediately I was sent reeling, my eyes watering at the vicious and unrelenting sound as pain tore through my head.

"Your hearing is hypersensitive, huh?" Through my bleary gaze, I could see two black and red boots making their way towards me, and something in the back of my mind told me to get up and fight. "I wonder if your other senses are just as vulnerable." I could feel his lecherous grin more than I could see it, and my body began to tremble. "I suppose I'll have to investigate the rest of them."

I snarled and bared my lengthening teeth, arching my back and digging my extended nails into the rank carpet beneath me. It dawned on me suddenly that we were still in the hotel room that I had checked into all those days ago, and that I was fighting someone who definitely wanted me dead—or, at least, more dead than I already was.

It could have taken you any longer to figure it out. You really are as dimwitted as people say you are, aren't you?

My hands twitched and I could feel the grimy carpet beginning to shred and buckle beneath my strength. Shut up so we can take this idiot down.

You don't want my power.

I do, but I do not want to kill this man. I have no qualms about physically hurting him, though.

Fine. But you'd better not be moping later on.

An aching pang tore through my stomach, and I was rocking back and forth as a moan escaped my mouth. This hunger—this pure need—it was all too familiar.

Behind me, I could feel the scientist's eyes boring into my back. He could watch and gripe and moan and whine, for all I cared. I had to deal with this before it escalated into something much worse.

Deal with it permanently. You know you want to.

My aura pulsed and writhed around my body, and I felt a small twinge of relief as my own characteristic coldness began to numb my skin. Good. That meant I wouldn't be affected by the filthy human warmth. Filthy, disgusting human war—

—wait, I didn't—

I gasped and wrapped my arms around my torso, my breathing hoarse and heavy. The world blurred around me and I struggled to remain aware of my surroundings even as I began to mutter words to calm down the voices, who were screaming and growling and snarling by now.

"Aw, is the little monster not feeling well?"

The voices in the back of my mind growled and bared their teeth as a heavy, steel-toed boot collided with my side. The force of the kick was stronger than anticipated and I was sent reeling, the rasp in my breathing becoming more pronounced.

"Daniel!"

The agent turned his head slightly to glare at the scientist, fury warping his features into some grotesque, horrific mask. "Stay out of this! It's all your fault! Everything that's happened today is all your and that monster's fault!"

He keeps calling us a monster, boy. How about we do something to show him just how much of an understatement that is?

No! I can't! I kept a promise!

As long as it isn't directly our fault, if the so-called 'bird' dies after we've dealt him physical harm, then it'll all be okay.

"You think I'm a monster?" I was as shocked as the other men to hear my voice as I pushed myself up on my feet. My body swayed, and I forced my breathing to calm down. I felt my lips stretch into a wide, maniacal grin as I fixed my cold stare on the government agent. "Maybe I should give you an idea of what a real monster is."

Tony shifted uneasily behind me and made to say something, but with a wave of my hand, I encased his feet in a thick layer of ice. I turned my head slightly to watch his reaction and was shocked to see that he was far from angry or even incensed. In fact, he looked almost...relieved.

Shaking my head with a harsh sigh, I turned back to the archer. He was watching me with icy, calculating eyes, his hands still in their respective positions on his bow and the arrow he had nocked into it. Something dark and wet was staining the rich leather covering one of his arms, and I felt a wave of longing wash over me as its sweet, metallic scent wafted towards me. It was that—his blood. The taste I needed, the taste I just had to have.

Dimly, I realized that I had hunched over, deep and rumbling snarls echoing in the back of my throat. I could feel my teeth digging into the flesh of my lower lip, and the spoiled iron taste flooded my mouth. I hissed in irritation, shaking my head violently. I didn't want that taste—what I wanted was the blood of my enemy, and I would have it eventually.

The agent's cold eyes never left me even as I appeared behind him. He was trained well enough; he had somehow anticipated my movements and guessed where I would end up next.

With a growl, I reached out and sunk my hand deep into the hard, muscled flesh of his torso, filling his overly-warm body with my own coldness. He hissed in a breath and spun on his heel, gritting his teeth at the numbing pain that resulted from my own attack. Tightening his grip on his bow, he whipped out his arm and slammed the heaviest part of the weapon into my head. Narrowing my eyes, I tilted my head to the side to avoid the majority of the damage, but there was still a tingling ache in my skin where the bow had connected.

Crimson lights lapped at the edges of my vision, and I began to pant heavily.

Destroy him. You know you want to. You want to taste his blood and feast on his flesh like the beast you are, don't you?

Shut up and let me think.

You can't. Not while I'm here. I thought you knew that.

The hairs on the back of my neck rising, I ducked as a sharply curved blade shot past me. He honestly thought knives would work on me?

They do, but they won't inflict as much harm as it would on a human.

I know that. He doesn't.

Wasn't he going to hurt Stark over there? Why aren't you doing anything about that?

"Stark's not here," I muttered, watching the archer with glazed eyes. "Stark isn't here. It's just me and him." But deep in the back of my mind, I knew there was someone watching the altercation between myself and the government archer. I just didn't feel the need to acknowledge their presence right now.

The icy-eyed man shifted his weight suddenly, and that heavenly smell wafted towards me once more. A deep groan escaped my mouth as I swayed on my feet, feeling a wave of heat wash over me. My arms wrapped tightly around my torso and my fingers dug deeply into my skin.

"What's wrong with the little monster? Did something give you a tummy ache?"

You and I both know that this human is beyond irritating. I suggest taking him out, as you have failed to do so during these past moments.

Outwardly, I was baring my teeth as I glared at nothing, hissing ill-intended words at the voices teasing me—urging me to eradicate both of the stupid humans who were laid out so perfectly before me like pigs trussed up on a fruit and vegetable-laden platter.

Only this time, you know, the fruits and vegetables would be their organs—flesh and muscle and all of the other delectable stuff—

Go on. You know you want to. Swallow them whole and become the darkness that threatens to consume your very being.

"Daniel!"

"Shut up!" I turned my head to glare at the man, baring my teeth with my metaphorical hackles raised. He couldn't interfere with my plans. Not after all of this.

"Didn't I tell you to keep your eyes on me?"

With a snarl, I leaned to the side to avoid another arrow, encasing the weapon in unbreakable ice with a wave of my hand. Even if it was another one of those infuriatingly painful sonic arrows, the sound wouldn't be able to break through the dark shelter of my own abilities. At least, not yet.

Barton was watching me through dark eyes, his lips pressed into a thin, almost invisible white line. Sweat glazed his skin—scarred in some places like my own; he probably called them battle trophies if his recent mannerisms were any slight indication—and the salty tang of the natural liquid mixed with the scent of the blood that had me reeling on my feet.

"Can't muster up an attack? What's wrong?" He was leering at me now, his lip curled in a disgusting sneer and his eyes crinkled into slits. "I thought Tony was your friend. Why aren't you—?"

"Shut up!" My aura lashed out, and then the man was pinned to the wall behind him. I could feel invisible hands clawing at both of our skins, and it only made the monstrous rage in my body swell and roar. Pain lanced through my skull and then I was crying out, cradling my head in my hands.

Destroy him destroy him destroy him

Stumbling on my feet, I growled and my invisible hold on the government lackey tightened. His eyes widened and he groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Monster," he growled, glaring at me through ice-cold eyes. "You're only—only proving everyone right if you k-kill me."

"Barton," Tony rumbled behind me, a wary and hesitant note creeping into his voice. "Don't do this. He won't be responsible for what happens to you."

"Are you blind, Stark?" The archer choked out, his eyes burning dangerously. "Don't tell me you'll take the blame. Another life destroyed because you couldn't keep your greedy little hands to yourself, is that right?"

I could all but taste the scientist's rage at those words, and then something strange and calming passed through me. I had my purpose now. I had to destroy the man who had made my friend angry.

A violent maelstrom of emotions ran through me—rage, despair, confusion—and my head throbbed as my aura wavered on a thin line.

The government pet made to say something, but then I cut him off. Soon, he wouldn't have anything to speak with.

"You wanted...to hurt...my ally?" My voice was dark and broken, a mangled whisper that burned its way up my throat. Tony's shock was a bitter taste in the back of my mouth, stained with the slightest hint of confusion.

Something strange flashed in the archer's stare and then he was surging forward, veins and tendons standing out vividly on his skin. His eyes were wide and bright as I felt the invisible hands lessen their grip slightly. Was this human really trying to break free?

"Hey. Answer me." I felt a comforting chill creep down my spine as I watched his vaguely frantic movements. "Were you trying to hurt my friend?"

"Let me go and maybe I'll tell you." He still had that infuriating leer on his face, and blood stained his damp lips.

I bared my teeth and narrowed my eyes, shivering as the hidden fingertips trailed over the nape of my neck. "I don't think so. I think you'll tell me right now." Almost involuntarily, I reached out my aura and the hands regained their formerly strong hold on the man. He groaned and gritted his teeth as the telltale creak of soon-to-break bones filled the air. A rush of ecstatic glee forced a moan out of my throat and the temperature of the room dropped to comfortable, numbing heights.

"Daniel, whatever you're doing, do it fast." Tony took a few steps toward me, caution clear in his voice and stance. "I think Fury's sent reinforcements."

Reinforcements? When had he—?

He pressed something on his belt when you were busy playing whack-a-mole between him and the wall.

And you couldn't bother telling me that before?

You looked like you were having fun.

With a groan, I tightened the invisible hands and grinned at the crack that sounded. Barton's eyes widened and he let out a shallow gasp, no doubt feeling his ribs break with my actions.

Go on and have a bit more fun, why don't you? It won't hurt him that much.

Snarling deep in the back of my throat, I slashed my hand through the air and groaned as an arc of bright crimson fluid splashed through the air. My senses screamed at me as that beautiful scent wafted towards me. I was moving forward before I know it, intent on taking in as much of that delicious aroma as I could.

I was stopped by a warm, work-hardened hand on my arm, the scent of expensive aftershave and sweat-slicked skin clear and obtrusive in my nose.

"Let me go. Let me go." I didn't even bother to look at the scientist as I kept my eyes locked on that lovely crimson fluid. "You don't understand. I...I need to have him. I have to. It'll—it'll taste so good. It'll be so good."

Tony's fingers dug into my arm and I hissed at the sudden discomfort. He was in my way—he was blocking me from my desire, my sudden impulse to devour and leave no trace behind.

Destroy it all. Show them what true suffering looks like.

I gasped heavily, my knees buckling as I swayed on my feet. The smell of the man's blood and the looming stench of his no doubt imminent death hung in the hair like a delightfully sickening perfume. Barton was glaring at me, fire in his eyes and ice in his veins.

He's a star burning with the light of a thousand suns.

"Daniel?"

I moaned, shaking my head and tangling my fingers in my hair. Everything was conflicting and crashing into each other—there were too many scents, too many colors, too many sounds and physical feelings.

A hoarse, gargling laugh tore from my throat and I groaned as my legs trembled. My skin was comfortably numb, and I could barely feel the scientist's fingers digging even deeper into my skin.

"Daniel!" Tony steadied my body as I collapsed, my breath hoarse and painful in the back of my throat. Dimly, I realized that Barton was trying to break free again, even if it was only to stop the flow of blood from the gash on his chest. I could smell his acrid hatred and the same curiosity he had shown during his discussion with the scientist.

"It's all your fault, Stark. This is all your fault," Barton hissed, baring his teeth in a pained but degradingly satisfactory smirk. "If I die, then you'll be to blame, and SHIELD will hunt you down to the ends of the earth."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as Tony shifted above me, a rumbling sound traveling through his body and into mine. Just what was he—?

Barton's eyes were wide with rage as he stared at the scientist. "You're really, truly insane. You are insane, Stark." He scoffed and coughed up a little more blood as he rolled his eyes and bared his teeth in a viciously derogatory grin. "I mean...I always knew something was off with you. But to side with a murderer, of all things..."

The strange air around the scientist darkened and I shuddered as that eerie laugh sounded again. "What, you thought I'd side with you over a child? You, nothing but a government lackey with a knack for shooting things from the sidelines?"

"Fury's going to kill you," the archer hissed, groaning with the effort of his attempted escape. "And then Natasha will resurrect you and kill you again."

"I don't see them anywhere. Do you?" I risked a glance at the scientist and saw that his eyes were wide and dark. "Your reinforcements are probably not going to get here before you pass out."

Barton growled and glared at the man. "Oh, I'm fine, Stark. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay awake long enough to see your sorry tail handcuffed and dragged to SHIELD's prison."

"Yeah, that won't happen." There was a high-pitched whirring sound and I caught the stench of expensive metal and a strange and powerful energy. "You see, I can't have the little birdie chirping back to the boss man."

Little birdie won't have a beak to chirp with anymore.

I flinched as a loud mechanical whir sounded close to my ear and a sudden onslaught of unnatural heat washed over me. Tony muttered something under his breath and shifted, shaking his head as the distinct aroma of smoke and burned metal wafted through the air.

"Technical difficulties, Stark? You're not the genius you're cracked up to be."

A low growl rang in my throat as the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I flinched as the scientist placed his non-weaponized hand on the nape of my neck, his fingers ghosting over the scars on my skin and sending a wave of reassurance through me.

"Don't believe everything you see." I knew that Tony was grinning again without me having to look at him. Barton's scowl was grotesquely pronounced as he pushed against the force holding him down, causing more blood to gush from his wounds.

Stark cursed—a stream of vile, almost unintelligible words—and drew in a sharp breath, just as the acrid scent of burned flesh reached me. I curled in on myself as the scientist's hand tightened on my neck, sending a wave of anxiety washing over me. He was telling me to duck down and be quiet—to stay out of the way.

The mechanical whirring that had sounded earlier suddenly reappeared with full force, making me clench my teeth so hard my gums began to throb. Tony growled out something above me, but I couldn't tell if it was directed at me or at the government agent pinned to the wall.

A flash of bright, blue-tinged white light filled the room and the mechanical whirring grew to a piercing roar. I could feel the buildup of power coming from whatever contraption the scientist had.

"Stark—" Barton hissed, the veins on his neck and arms standing out vividly against his skin. "Stark, you don't want to do this. You know that's not—"

Tony laughed, making me wince and clench my eyes shut. "I don't see where your opinion ties into this. You're nothing but a government lapdog. Why should I listen to the reiterated words of your master?"

There's something off about him, boy, the beast growled in the back of my mind. I know it's hard to focus but keep your guard up.

I can't. You know that. I can't—you know I can't. My body began to tremble and I found it hard to breathe. I can't, I can't, I can't—it hurts too much.

A chill raced down my spine as I caught the faint but distinct sound of a crow's cry outside of the hotel window. If I narrowed my eyes the right way, I could see the outline of four birds standing on a sagging power line, all preening their feathers as if there was nothing wrong with the deranged world around them.

How I longed for that degree of ignorance.

Daniel, you need to focus. Pay attention and watch what's happening.

I forced my watery stare away from the birds and back onto the confrontation between Tony and the archer. Somehow, even with all of the distractions that had happened, I had managed to keep the force pinning the agent to the wall intact. That, or he had.

"Stark, I'm gonna keep telling...telling you this until you listen." Barton was visibly struggling to speak as blood dripped from his chin. "You can—you can stop this. Fury...there'll be a lighter punishment." He choked out a laugh and shook his head slightly. "Ah...but Tasha will still...kill you."

Kill?

No, no, no, no, no. He can't die. He's the only one.

Tony laughed again—that strange, eerie laugh that rumbled through both of our bodies—and it was then that I noticed he had a bizarre metal glove on. When I turned to face it, the scent of burned flesh from before hit me with such a ferocity that I couldn't stop the moan that escaped my throat. The scientist twitched faintly in my direction, but the majority of his attention was focused on Barton.

"Sorry, bow boy, but I'm not budging on this. Daniel comes with me."

He grinned widely and bared bloodstained teeth. "Really? Nothing...will change your mind, huh?" Barton threw his head back, hard enough to crack his skull against the musty, faded wallpaper. "What kind of...what do you want in return?"

The fingers of Tony's uncovered hand twitched, and the gears of the mechanical contraption on his other hand whirred and groaned as he clenched it into a fist. He was silent as he turned to face me, kneeling slowly in front of me.

"Daniel. Remember what I said about helping me with the little birdie?"

I shuddered as the beast snarled in the back of my mind—claws made of darkness and pain and suffering were tearing into my stream of consciousness—but I forced myself to nod. "We have to...we have to clip the...the birdie's wings."

I could vaguely tell that the scientist was smiling as he nodded. My vision blurred and I had the dim feeling that I was being suddenly shoved underwater.

"Good. Now listen to me very carefully. I need you to let the birdie go."

The human must have lost his mind.

No. We have to take care of the birdie. I can't take care of him if I can't touch him.

Silly boy. You don't need to touch him. You know that.

But I want to touch him. I want to feel his blood and hear his screams and taste his fear.

"Daniel?"

Do you really? Are you hungry again? Are you going to taunt yourself with promises of flesh and blood that hang by threads built on meaningless promises?

"I'm...I'm okay. Let him...go? Let the...birdie...go?" A violent pang tore through my stomach and I cried out, rocking back and forth in my seat as I fought to stamp down the urge to destroy.

destroy them all and bathe in their remains while the world crumbles around us

"Yes. Let the birdie go. I'll take care of the rest, okay?"

Distantly, there was the sound of a powerful set of engines, grumbling and roaring through the sky as the mechanical monster—or monsters, maybe there was more than one of them—came closer and closer.

Stupid human.

He's trying to trick you. All of the humans are.

"O-Okay. Let the...birdie go."

Fire.

It tastes like ancient wood and the hymns of lost saints. It tastes like birth and heart-blood and the bright gold lights of those cherished beginnings. When you close your eyes, the stars know what it means to suddenly become, and you are a dreamer so hot the looming forest trees ache with just a glimpse of you. Go on, the dancing honeysuckles urge you as you frolic and stumble through the bark behemoths. Go on and let go. You are still so young and wild.

Light.

A boy in ripped jeans sitting by the river with the acrid taste of copper in his mouth. He thinks I will always be afraid. But marigolds grow along the bark, orange as new stars. And there is no greater truth than the truth that he will grow to be just as achingly bright and destructive too.

He was the bringer of his own catastrophe.

He'd been quiet for far too long; blood was dripping down his chin from him biting his tongue to keep the words of what he should have said all those years ago at bay.

He had to tear himself apart to let them go.

A wise decision. A stupid decision. He had yet to figure it out.

Damaged people are dangerous. Do you know why? It's because they've learned to make hell feel like home.

Home. Hell. They both meant the same thing to him. They were interchangeable words—the only difference was that one had just a little bit more light in it. Something that hinted at a false hope dangling on a thread of lies and empty promises.

Be still, Daniel. This will all be over soon.

He sighed and tore a handful of grass from the damp, bloodstained riverbank. "More empty words, huh? Don't you ever get tired of it?"

Be still and close your eyes.

"They're already closed."

Stillness is coming. The doe-eyed stillness that blinks and awakens those who slumber in darkness. Stillness is coming. Stillness is coming.

Breathe. You know what you want.

We want nothing but death and decay and destruction.

No. I want nothing but—nothing but silence, black forests, and cold winds to coddle me when I grow weary.

Sleep, Daniel. The bad things won't come for you here.

"If you say so."

Tony watched as the boy sat awkwardly on the dingy carpeted floor, his legs folding in on themselves as if they weren't used to the idea of bearing the weight of the unforgiving world that rested upon his shoulders. Daniel was panting heavily, frost glazing the skin of his neck and lower jaw. The temperature of the room was fluctuating back and forth between something considered normal and the bleak iciness that was reminiscent of the horrors Daniel had seen.

"Stark—"

Both the boy and the archer flinched almost simultaneously as the scientist fired a warning shot dangerously close to the man's head. Barton's eyelids were drooping as he breathed heavily, fighting off the unwavering hand of unconsciousness. He had lost more blood than he'd initially thought—his breathing was shallow and hoarse, perspiration glazed his skin, and his eyes were hazy and shrunken.

"I didn't say you could speak."

Ice blue eyes widening, the archer's veins stood out against his perspiration-slicked skin. His fingers twitched against the unnatural, invisible force Daniel was somehow maintaining even as he drifted into a realm between reality and whatever constituted as sleep for him.

"Is—is that what this is?" Barton demanded, his voice nothing but a hoarse and ragged hiss. "Are you—are you getting off...on this? Playing...bad boy while the rest of us...wait for whatever that monster has in...store for us?" He narrowed his eyes and glared at the scientist. "Just because you...have power...doesn't mean...you're powerful."

Tony's hand twitched and the gauntlet on his arm whirred as if voicing its wordless agitation. "I wouldn't have my power if I wasn't meant to use it. What would be the point of having this"—he held up the weapon on his arm—"if I couldn't use it? This is my right, you see."

The archer shook his head weakly as fury warped his sweat-slicked and blood-spattered features. "Why...why are you doing this? Why are you helping that...that monster?" His words were punctuated by small, almost unnoticeable gasps as he fought through the dulling pain that had morphed into a fiery agony.

Letting out a sharp breath, the scientist turned and kneeled by the raven-haired boy's side. "Little birdie can come to play now."

Daniel's fingers twitched and his lip curled back to expose razor-sharp teeth. "Now? Set the little bird free?"

Tony sighed deeply and pressed his lips together. "Yes. It's okay."

Barton glared as those chilling blue eyes pierced a hole in his soul. Daniel tilted his head to the side and seemed to murmur something, and just as soon as the words left his mouth the invisible force holding the archer to the wall vanished in an instant. Clint groaned as some of the feelings in his hands and arms returned in the form of pins and needles, adding to the already dully-throbbing pain of the wound on his chest. He assessed the situation further, taking in exit points and where his bow and arrow had ended up.

"You can go for the bow and arrow if you like. But it won't change the fact that you're not leaving this room conscious."

Daniel growled deeply and seemed to agree with the scientist's words, although his expression had taken on a glazed sort of look as he crumpled back into that odd sitting position on the grimy floor.

The government agent glared and pressed hand roughly against the bleeding wound on his chest, a faint flare of pain going through his eyes. "Stark...didn't answer my—my question."

"Oh, I know. I'm just waiting to see what Daniel here will do about it." Stark turned and murmured something to the boy; it seemed to take him a moment to comprehend the words, but once he did, he nodded slowly and hunched in on himself.

"You see, Barton, I don't want too much of anything. Yes, I may be a billionaire scientist who's created dozens of high-tech suits and even an artificial intelligence, but I think I'm entitled to say that my greed ends there. For now, at least." Tony took to pacing the floor, keeping his gauntlet-covered arm in full view of the archer. "I'm a scientist, plain and simple. Like you said, I just want to know all of Daniel's little secrets. I mean," he continued on, throwing his hands into the air as a wide grin stretched his lips, "What other chance will I have to examine such a fine specimen?"

Barton scoffed, more saliva and blood dribbling from his chapped lips. "You just want...you just want a lab rat, then. Something that'll come when you call it and...and purr in satisfaction when rewarded."

Tony's grin vanished just as quickly as it appeared as he scowled and shook his head violently. "No, no, no! You misunderstand me. Not a lab rat. Just...a guard dog, if you will. Don't get me wrong—I still believe Daniel has some semblance of humanity remaining in there." He had turned to face the raven again, some strange softness appearing in his amber stare. "There's got to be something that's helping him define his morals. But I don't think that humanity has the wheel all of the time."

"You think?" Barton growled, his body tensing as Tony whipped around to face him once again. "What human would—?"

The arc reactor in the gauntlet whined as it came to life once again, cutting off the archer's words. "Quiet, birdie. I'm trying to explain myself here, don't you know? Don't be rude." Amber eyes widened as the scientist spoke over his shoulder. "Daniel. It's time to help me clip the birdie's wings."

"Wings..." Daniel shuddered harshly and wrapped his arms around his torso, the atmosphere of the room darkening significantly. "Clip...his wings."

"Stark, don't do this!"

Tony turned as if he hadn't heard the archer's words and helped the boy to his feet, allowing him to rest his weight against his broader frame. "Go on, Daniel. It'll be alright."

The boy's tremors grew in strength as he slowly looked up at the bleeding man. "It's...not me. I'm—I'm not bad."

If looks could kill, the raven would have been dead by now.

Kill him kill him kill him

"Just do it," the archer snarled, hatred and disgust and rage battling for dominance in his eyes and face. "Go ahead and kill me."

"That's not what he's doing and you know it," Tony snapped suddenly, his eyes wide and dark in the dim lighting of the room. "Daniel, are you still up for it?"

The boy hesitated and shrunk back, digging his long fingers into the scientist's arms. "No...I don't—" He swayed on his feet and his knees shook violently as his breathing became heavier. He began to mutter unintelligible words under his breath, his hands shaking wildly at his sides as his eyes fell shut.

"Damn it," Stark cursed, hefting the raven's now-limp body up and against his own. He felt the archer's eyes on him and that strange grin appeared once more.

"And then there were two."

Barton growled and blinked fiercely as black spots darted in and out of his vision. "You—"

Tony fired the gauntlet without another moment's hesitation, shadows concealing his expression as he shrugged a broad shoulder.

"Or, you know. There can be one, too."

"Gerard, in my office. Now."

The young man looked up from his task of sweeping the floor and nodded slowly, setting the broom aside and stuffing his hands in his pockets as he followed his boss into his office towards the back of the restaurant.

Gerard shivered as the temperature of the air seemed to drop, decreasing even further as they made their way down the hall towards the door at the end. His boss opened the plain gray door and motioned for Gerard to enter.

"Well? Are you just going to stand there or go inside?"

"S-Sorry, sir." Gerard hurried into the room, his heart pounding dully in his chest. What was going on? Had he done something wrong? Treated a customer badly?

He noticed movement in the corner of his eye and turned swiftly, a cold sweat breaking out on his skin.

To his surprise, none other than Daniel sat in the chair next to his. His arms were wrapped around his torso and his hair concealed his face as he trembled slightly, the fluorescent lights bleaching his already pale skin to give him an unnatural, eerie pallor.

"Daniel? What's going on?" Gerard glanced back and forth between his boss and the trembling raven.

"Sit down," their boss grumbled, taking a seat in his own chair. Gerard scrambled to comply, but not before sparing Daniel multiple glances in the process.

"As you know, Daniel has some medical issues that could affect his performance here at the restaurant," the shadow-cloaked man at the head of the room rumbled, frowning deeply as he pushed his glasses up the narrow ridge of his nose. "Lately, they've been appearing full force."

Gerard frowned and tilted his head to the side. "Boss, I know. That's why I told you about—"

"—it's fine." Daniel turned his head slightly, just enough to let his coworker know that he was speaking to him. "I'm better now."

His frown becoming even deeper, the young man crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. "Are you? Not even a week ago you looked like you were on the verge of collapse."

"Daniel has assured me that everything was fine. He simply forgot to take his medication while caught up in the workload."

Gerard's eyes widened and he leaned back in his seat. "No, that can't be true. I don't think everything's fine. If him not taking his medicine makes him act like that, then what are you going to do about it? Babysit him until he never forgets to take them?"

"No. I won't be doing that." Bright artificial lights bounced off of the reflective lens of their superior's glasses as he frowned deeply. "You will."

Mouth gaping open like a fish out of water, Gerard's eyes were wide as he glanced between his boss and the trembling pale man. "Are you serious? I'm babysitting the new kid?"

"Need I remind you that you've only been here six months and that everything could change with a snap of my fingers, Gerard?"

Fingers twitching, Gerard shook his head frantically. "No, sir."

After a tense moment of silence, the bespectacled man laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them. "Daniel has agreed to leave if his medical issues become too much for him to handle, which will be—"

"But—"

"—which will be determined by his actions and your evaluation of them. You will report these evaluations to me. Understand?"

"I—" Gerard spared a glance at his teammate, slightly unnerved at the paleness of his skin and his silence. "Yes, sir."

"Good." The man spun in his chair and waved a hand over his shoulder. "You are dismissed."

Daniel rose to his feet once Gerard was out of the room, one arm wrapped around his torso and the other hanging free at his side. "That was...good. I...liked that." His fingers twitched slightly and he fixed on cold blue eye on the man.

"You're still sick, as far as I know. You are dismissed."

"...yes, sir." He turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

He couldn't help but moan as a wave of vertigo overwhelmed him, forcing him to stumble and slam his already sore shoulder into the wall.

What are you doing? Are you really that dimwitted?

You could have easily ended this farce.

He shuddered and ran a hand over his arm. No, I couldn't have. You know what my body's been through. I'm tired enough.

We could have easily manipulated him into doing what we wanted him to do.

I don't want that right now. Maybe later. I'm too tired right now to argue, so don't start.

You still don't know what you're truly capable of, do you?

Daniel groaned and tangled his hands in his hair, trying to breathe over the sound of roaring blood and dull thunder in the back of his mind. I have some idea, I think. But don't...don't worry. I'll have both of them under my thumb soon enough.

There was a brief silence as the voice seemed to think something over. Interesting. I think I'm starting to like you.

I hope not. But the raven straightened to his full height and made his way towards the nearest exit.

He needed some fresh air.

Fresh air from the world around him.

A crow screamed in the distance.

One for sorrow, two for mirth. Three for a wedding, and four for a birth.

Five for silver, six for gold. And seven for a secret never to be told.

Holy cow, this chapter was long. I hope that helps make up for my absence. Any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to leave them in a review or to message me.

And what did you think about Tony? Hehe...

I'll let you all figure out what happened to Clint.