Summary: After surviving a hit and run that should have killed her, Riley McLawson now has unusual powers from her near death experience. S.H.I.E.L.D sends the team to recruit her against a new enemy. Only along the way they learn that Riley isn't the enemy but someone else in the group is. Eventual Clint/OC, Steve/Darcy.
From The Shadows
Chapter 6
Song – Before The Dawn – By Evanescence
Meet me after dark again and I'll hold you
I am nothing more than to see you there
[chorus]
And maybe tonight, we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn
If only night can hold you where i can see you, my love
Then let me never ever wake again
[chorus]
And maybe tonight, we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn
They all nodded as Bruce spoke "I think we should get Jane and her team here" He said firmly.
"And Miss Betty Blake". Fury interjected through the com.
"Who's Jane?" Riley asked curious.
"Thor's, girlfriend." Tony responded, winking up at the large blond god, who looked proud.
Riley grinned "I'd like to meet her". She said softly.
"She'll like you my niece, so will her assistant Darcy and Erik". Thor said cheered.
"Are they fighters?"
"Nope, genius's like me though. That can go a long way." He pointed out. "We'll kick ass!"
Riley grinned "Who's Betty?" She wondered.
"Bruce's fiancée and I must say she's a lovely woman" Tony said smiling.
"New Mexico, here we come". Clint muttered.
"Bruce has a fiancée!" Riley all but screamed, grinning. "I didn't know that! I can't wait to meet her!"
"Why so surprised?" Bruce joked, as the plane began take off.
"I just didn't expect, it excuse my girly moment."
Tony grinned "I like your niece Thor; she's got a good sense of humour".
Thor smiled fondly at Riley as rain began to hail down.
"Aw, hell what the hell now?" Tony asked annoyed.
Riley looked at the window quickly, "Its only rain, Tony". She said calmly.
Tony made a face. "Only rain. Rain's gross. He told her childishly. Riley decided not to argue with him on that subject, since clearly he's a stubborn teenager disguised as a man.
"Yeah but I'm pretty sure, that rain isn't coloured red". Steve said sounding disgusted.
"Holy shit..." Tony said slowly, eyes staring at the red droplets, half amazed, half disgusted. They all ran to the window to check out what was making the rainfall of blood.
"Anyone feel like this is one of the ten plagues of Egypt?" Bruce said sounding disturbed.
Riley looked at the window quickly "Only, the rivers flowed with blood, not the fucking sky."
"We need to get Jane and the others NOW! And head back to the base".
Clint said going to the cockpit.
A loud roaring sound was heard then and Riley saw everyone turn pale.
"Not those fucking things again?" Tony groaned.
The aliens arrived on their bizarre flying machines. They could see them through the window, getting closer. Clint grabbed an arrow and got into his shooting position, while Tony twisted the face of the armour back on his head. Thor swung his hammer in threat, and Bruce got increasingly larger in size. Riley's hand went aflame.
"What the hell do we do?" Tony asked staring at the Chitauri.
"THE OUTSIDER'S DAUGHTER!" The leader of the Chitauri called out to Riley.
"Great, what the fuck now?" Riley hissed, her eyes turning a dark shade of purple.
"The great Lord wants you to come with us." The leader continued. Riley snorted.
"Who's to say I'll obey?" She answered him stonily, flashing her flames at him. The creature grinned cruelly.
"Nobody, but the Lord did say to threaten if anything like... disobeying came to be known."
"Let me guess... He'll torture my friends; use Clint as a puppet again?" Riley said not looking the least bit frightened.
"Well you had it half right". Loki called out.
"It won't only be your cute boyfriend Barton this time." Loki flew closer, ignoring the menacing fire that rose up at him, and flicked Riley's chin. A fireball was aimed at his head, but he only dodged it with a laugh. "You're whole team shall be controlled by me. And you will be captured and forced to watch them kill and maim your friends."
As if to prove to his point, Loki jabbed his staff at Clint's chest expecting him to immediately become under his control. Only nothing happened.
Frowning Loki tried again.
"This usually works". He said frowning at the staff.
Even Clint was staring in confusion at the staff pressed to his chest. Loki tried once more, the others not moving to stop it, too dumbfounded.
A scream tore from Loki's throat and he threw his arm back to blast at the archer, who shuffled clumsily to get his arrow better positioned in his bow, when a flash of fire from Riley threw her father out of the aircraft.
"What the fuck, just happened?" Tony asked stunned.
Clint was relieved that he wasn't going to be Loki's puppet again.
They all looked at Riley "I don't know either". She said surprised.
"We're in New Mexico, so-" Steve was cut off by a blast to the plane.
Loki wasn't done with them yet; his little army had gotten over their own shock, and were now defending their leader.
"OH, SHIT HANG ON!" Clint yelled as he tried to keep them in the air.
Riley threw a fireball at one of them when idea came to her.
"THROW ME IN THE AIR, TONY!" She yelled to him.
"WHAT! ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Tony yelled shocked.
"Are you doubting yourself? You'll be able to catch me, now come on."
Tony cursed as he gathered her, "If this fuck's up, Robin Hood, Thor, Steve and Bruce will kill me and so will Pepper." He said looking at the dark sky.
"RILEY, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" Steve yelled.
"NOW!"
Tony threw her out of the door.
From the higher angle, aiming and shooting became easier, with swift movements; fireball after fireball was thrown from her hand, most hitting their target.
Tony caught her like planned on the way down; He laughed happily and gave her a high five.
"Nice one, purple flame". Tony said grinning as they landed back on the plane.
"It was both of us". Riley said grinning.
"We're here". Steve called.
"And the freaks are leaving". Tony said doing a fist pump in the air.
"Nice one, purple flame". Tony said grinning as they landed back on the plane.
"It was both of us". Riley said grinning.
"We're here". Steve called.
"And the freaks are leaving". Tony said.
"That was... easier than it should have been." Clint commented, looking slightly troubled.
The other nodded in agreement, but decided not to dwell on it. They did what they were meant to do once in Mexico, and went to find Jane.
"Thor!" Jane called out as they landed.
"Jane!" Thor shouted running towards the young woman.
"I'm guessing that's my uncle's girlfriend?" Riley asked smiling.
"Yep, that is and the guy behind her is Professor Erik Selvig, next to him is Darcy Lewis, daughter of the billionaire Thomas Lewis and Felicity Lewis". Tony said giving a nod to them.
"Agent Barton, good to meet you under better circumstances than the last time we met, and who's this charming, beautiful young lady?" Erik asked walking towards them.
Clint was about to speak when Thor interrupted "This Erik is my niece Riley Isobel McLawson." He said proudly, still keeping Jane at his side.
"Ah, I see- Wait hold on NIECE?!" He said confused.
"Oh yes, you people haven't been told." Clint started, chuckling. "This is Loki's daughter, no worries, she's not evil or anything. That doesn't run in the family." For a few moments, Riley was regarded suspiciously and she shifted nervously from the observing stares. But just as quickly, the cold stares turned into inviting smiles and Erik came over to shake her hand enthusiastically.
"Nice to meet you, Miss McLawson." He crooned. Riley gave him a hesitant smile, and squeezed his hand back.
"You too, Mr Selvig."
Darcy walked over to her then and grinned at her "Hi" She said smiling cheerfully reminding her of Jenney.
Jane came over then and enveloped her into a warm hug.
"Nice to meet you Riley".
Riley didn't know what to do of the hug, and just patted the brunette's back awkwardly.
"Alright so if everyone gets on the plane, we can tell you all what's going on and Fury needs to know about Ginger bitch turning into a crazy demon." Tony said grabbing a brandy.
"Hey, get me one of those too!" Clint waved at Tony lazily. He glared and brought the liquor closer to himself.
"Get your own." He snapped childishly, and then drowned the glass he had.
Bruce sighed at the two. "Be serious guys." They glared at each other for a moment longer, before giving into the demand and listening to the explanation.
"Basically, we learned that a wanted, weapons arm dealer called Viktor Kosovo got a hold of nuclear weapons or so we thought. Turns out that it was actually a book that could summon demons, Riley's mom was involved too and... So was Natasha" Steve said as Clint's face darkened at the mention of his partner now revealed enemy.
"Wait a minute, Natasha betrayed you all?" Erik said shocked.
Nobody wanted it said out loud again, so Steve only nodded. The newcomers were silent, taking in the information, while Jane made a horrified face and pressed her hand to her mouth.
"Oh my..." She whispered. "Are you guys okay."?
"We will be." Tony pitched in, pouring another shot of alcohol.
"So how did you guys find out about Riley? No offence". Darcy said looking at Riley with an apologetic expression.
"None, taken". She said quietly.
"We discovered Riley after the Council showed interest". Clint said, looking at his bow.
"I'm sorry Clint".
"Sorry for what?" Tony asked, ignorant of other's feelings as always.
Steve glared at Tony and realisation dawned on Tony's face, Clint and Natasha had been lovers.
"Well that's gotta suck, knowing that the woman you saved was still a bad guy". He said dryly.
Clint had enough and walked to the cockpit, Riley felt pained for him. She may not have liked Natasha but Clint had obviously cared about her before she had showed her true colours.
She followed him.
"Clint. How are you?" She asked him quietly. "I never thought to ask you. But its right, this whole happening must be a huge pang to your heart." He wasn't looking at her, gazing at the far wall. He didn't respond for a full minute, and Riley was going to turn back around leave the blonde alone, but finally, he spoke up.
"I loved her you know. We broke up ya, but she was still like a sister to me." He voice broke at the end of the sentence, and Riley walked up to him, gathering him into a hug.
"It's ok, its going be alright". She said softly hugging him, like she would do with Caleb if he was upset, or ill.
Clint rested his face in her shoulder "Sorry about that". He said looking embarrassed, pulling away from her.
Riley smiled "No problem, my son Caleb, he would be like that". She said quietly.
"How did he get sick?"
"The doctor said it ran in the family, but I'm not so sure it was that anymore." Clint regarded her severely once she stopped, planning not to say anymore. So, she reluctantly continued.
"I think it may have been Loki, or my mother, or even Viktor."
She swallowed "When he started getting worse, the doctor said that they couldn't give him anymore treatment because it was so severe. Caleb was nine years old when he died, he would have been twelve this year". She said quietly.
"That's not very long ago." Clint said sympathetically. He rubbed her back when her chest started to convulse, sobs wanting to escape her mouth. "Cry, there's nothing to be ashamed of."
And she did, letting tears fall down her cheeks and horrible sounds to come out of her mouth. "I-I haven't been a-able to cry for so long." She told him wetly, wiping at the tear tracks.
Clint pulled an arm around her "My older brother, Barney died a few years ago by someone and I got to avenge him but I still miss him." He said remembering his older brother's face.
Grief was ugly.
"I'm sorry." Clint chuckled at that.
"We're worrying about you now. I was able to mourn when he died, now it's your turn."
Riley smiled sadly at that "I was a mess when he died; my parents and sister were worried sick about me. I couldn't eat, sleep or act ... normal I just wanted it to be a sick, twisted nightmare but I knew it wasn't." She said twirling her necklace around.
Clint looked at the necklace curiously "What's that?"
"I've had it since I was a baby, look".
"It's beautiful." Clint whispered. "What's the shape?"
Riley smiled at him "It's a crescent moon, but it's got strange shape in the centre, do you think Thor will know?" she asked him quietly.
Clint looked at the strange necklace again "Only one way to find out". He said honestly, he felt calmer after talking to Riley about Natasha's betrayal and his hurt about it.
They headed out of the room, Riley following behind Clint as they began landing at the base, to her surprise no one was running about rushing.
"Where the hell is everyone?" Clint said wearily, grasping his bow.
They slowly made their way out of the jet, the place was practically deserted of anyone being there.
"This can't be good". Tony said as he put on his armoured head.
Riley lit up her right hand and a small, dark purple fireball appeared in her palm as they entered the base cautiously.
The fire gave them light, but barely enough to be able to see adequately. They tip toed into the desired location, a bad feeling beginning in the pit of their stomachs.
They stopped at the main room only to see ten agents on the floor dead, blood smeared all over the computers. Shock ran through them at the massacre.
"I wonder where Fury, Maria and Pepper are." Darcy said anxious.
"Tony?" Pepper called out as she wearily stepped out.
"Pep!" Tony exclaimed, running up to his girlfriend. He grabbed her by the arms and looked her over for any injuries. Once satisfied that she was okay, he gave her a light kiss on the lips and stared into her eyes.
"What happened? Why are you here?"
Pepper shuddered as she spoke "I was at the house when this man arrived wearing all black and Natasha was with him. He said that if I didn't go with him, he would kill all of you starting with Riley and... he said he'd make what Lily did to her look like child's play. So I went with them to the base and this guy in armour tried to touch me with his staff but nothing happened, he started getting pissed and Riley's cat attacked Lily. Here Tom" She called out and Riley's black cat arrived, hissing but unharmed.
Riley didn't interrupt her talk with a shout of happiness, only quietly walked up to her cat and nuzzled him into her arms, continuing to listen to the explanation.
"Once they noticed the staff wasn't going to work, they decided to kill everyone that had seen them. Me, being lucky, I was able to figure out their plan and hide before any real harm could come."
Pepper looked at Thor then, "The guy in black started going on about these crystal stones. He said they were hidden in different locations and one was in Canada."
Riley stilled then "My sister and parents live there, so does her husband and daughter". She said and ran to her room.
She took out a few pictures along with some food from the pantry, running back to the gathered crowd. "Here they are." She flashed them the family photo. "And we can call them now; they'd be more than happy for us to stay with them so we can find the stone. Any idea where it is in Canada?" Tony added.
"St Newlands street in Yukon" Riley said worried.
"Alright! Awesome, umm, so we're getting back in the jet right?" Riley asked.
"Should we tell fury-"
"Leave it." Clint interrupted Steve question. "And yes, the jet will be used. However we may need more gas..."
"I'm on it!" Tony called in, already off to somehow find a pile of fuel.
Riley was about to answer when the helicarrier rocked sideways, causing them all to stumble.
"What the fuck?" Jane said alarmed.
"Shouldn't we go to the arsenal?" Steve asked wearily.
"I'll go." Riley volunteered.
"Tony! You join her, everyone else, follow me!" Steve ordered, and they were off.
Tony and Riley ran to the arsenal room, where the guns were and armed themselves with everything just as another crash landed near them.
"Man, what the hell?" She said wearily as they raced to find the others.
"What's happening? I am so confused!" Tony whined. He shuffled the guns in his grip and turned another corner, nearly running into Steve.
"There you are, now let's figure out what the hell this is."
"Hey we went as fast as we could..." Nobody listened to the brunette, his voice serving as background noise.
Nobody moved for a whole minute, and then just as they let out a breath the helicarrier went upside down, water leaking in.
"CAN EVERYONE SWIM?" Steve yelled and everyone yelled yes aside from Riley who looked terrified.
Clint could somehow feel her unease and he walked up to her, gathering her in his arms.
"Don't worry; I'm strong enough to swim for two." Riley shot him a grateful smile and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a hug of gratitude, and leaving her arms there to hang on.
"Wait, what about my cat?" She asked looking at Tom worriedly.
Thor smiled at her as he put the cat in a sort of bubble "He'll be safe, Riley". He assured.
"Right let's get the hell out of here folks". Tony said going under, Pepper right behind him.
Oh god. Riley thought.
Clint gave her a reassuring smile before taking the plunge. Riley squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the water wet her body and the heaviness of her clothes trying to gravitate her to the bottom.
Clint swam easily through the water, Riley grasping at his arms tightly as they reached the surface to get to the jet.
Coughing and spitting out water, they climbed on the jet, Riley's dark red curls looking wild.
"Good thing Jane and I packed everyone's clothes." Darcy said smiling.
"In water, proof suitcases!" Jane added cheerily. Riley wondered how they could both be so happy after something like that had just happened.
Everyone else came at different intervals, Pepper and Tony one of the first since Tony had his suit on. Steve, then Thor with Bruce.
They all clambered on the metal aircraft and sat, shivering from the cold.
"It had to be near water" Tony complained.
"Shut up, you're one to whine, you have your fucking suit on jackass." Pepper scolded him, the others laughed, despite their situation.
"So we're off to Yukon, to find a fucking piece of a crystal before crazy god gets it? Anyone getting an Indiana Jones feel here?" Tony asked no one in general.
"Tony be serious, we're fighting fucking Demons". Riley said to him firmly.
Somehow I know that we can't wake again from this dream
It's not real, but it's ours
[chorus]
Maybe tonight, we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn
Maybe tonight, we'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn