AN: Hey guys, I'm sorry I haven't updated recently. I have a chronic disease that takes a lot out of me especially when I have to go in for treatments. They upped my treatment so it kicked me a little harder than usual. On top of that my husband was involved in a car accident and we've been trying to get him back to normal ever since. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to writing some more, but I'm going to try to work on several of my stories so it might not be as frequent :/ Sorry Guys I love you all!
"So let me get this straight..." Rhodey said holding up a metal finger, "You want us to fight each other so that we can learn about each other and somehow that is going to make us closer?" He asked disbelievingly his face showing the same skeptical expression as every one else's.
"Yes, trust me it will work." Natasha said, "I've seen it first hand."
"I am unsure that I am comfortable fighting my friends for no good reason. Fighting should only be done in the name of protecting life, not for sport." Vision said looking a little uncomfortable.
"This is for life, we need to be a real team if we are going to be able to save innocent life when we need to, not to mention keep each other from getting killed." Natasha reminded them, "and besides it's not like we're going to kill each other, the guns have rubber bullets, reactors are set to stun and Vision and Scarlet Witch will be controlling their powers. No one is even going to get seriously hurt not to mention killed and Fury is calling the kills and wounds so we can keep track like a real battle."
"Did you guys ever do this? The old Avengers I mean, did you fight each other like this?" Wanda asked.
"Trust me, we fought each other plenty." Bruce said averting his eyes and scratching the back of his head.
"You'd be surprised at the number of times I used to have to kick my old partner's ass." Natasha added.
Steve snorted, "I fought Thor, and kinda Tony then too, I ran interference on Hulk once or twice, I've never had the misfortune of fighting Nat for real, but I train with her enough that I know everything about her fighting style and possibly a little more than I needed to about her capabilities as a spy too." He said turning a little pink around the edges at the last comment and avoiding Bruce's eyes making the older man raise an eyebrow.
"Are we going to get paired up into partners like you two are?" Sam asked.
"You're partner is whoever is on the mission with you no matter who it is, but yes some people will get paired up more than others. For example three of you are made of or use metal, four of you fly, but it drains Wanda, three of us have natural protection from guns and what not, only two of us could probably shoot someone through the eye at a block away, but only one of us doesn't need a gun. Different missions call for different kills; we each bring different things to the table and it's my job to decide who's best for what." Steve explained.
"Look guy's, we're not going to make you do this, but anyone who sits it out has to go about joining the team the slow way. You will be excluded from all Avengers business until such time as the team thinks you are ready and capable of being an equal member. " Natasha said eyeing them all one by one, "So who's in?"
Every one turned looking at one another, but it was Wanda who raised her hand first and said, "I'm in."
"Ya me too." Said Rhodey quickly followed by everyone else.
"Well then what are you waiting for, get in the damn car and let's get out there." Fury barked striding into the room.
The team adjusted their various suits and weapons a little nervously before filing out to the offroaders as they rode out to the clearing that had been made for them. Looking around the clearing in the forest Natasha noted that various random objects like, jeeps, piles of crumbled of building material, and other rubble. It was a sight that was familiar to all of them as they stood around a little awkwardly measuring each other up.
"Soooooo uhhhh who's first?" Sam asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ladies first." Fury's voice quipped over the projected speaker system as Black Widow and Scarlet witch turned to look at each other. Natasha's face stayed hard and impassable, but a bead of sweat slipped down her temple as the memory of the last time she had face the witch. Wanda gulped eyeing The Widow up and down before setting her mouth in a determined line her eyes tinged with a bit of red.
The women positioned themselves on either side of the clearing, Maria on the side with Wanda and Bruce standing opposite next to Natasha.
"We don't have to do this one first Natasha." Bruce assured her.
Natasha snorted, "and what? Tell Fury no?"
"I don't care what we have to tell him Natasha," Bruce said taking her face between his hands forcing her to look at him, "Fury can go fuck himself for all I care. You don't need to be revisiting all of that gain."
Natasha laughed softly and kissed Bruce lightly, "I'm fine dear. I just can't let her touch me and I'll be fine. This was my idea remember?"
Bruce smiled softly and said, "Ok. Be safe Tasha, and remember, you're stronger than her. Don't let her take over." He said kissing her forehead and stepping back as Fury began the countdown.
"Any advice?" Wanda asked Maria.
Maria snorted, "Against the Black Widow? Nothing is unexpected. Don't even expect the unexpected; anything and everything is unexpected. Her brain works a hundred times faster than anyone else's and she's the most creative person I've ever met. She can use anything to her advantage before you even realize what it is."
"So basically don't give her time to think." Wanda decided.
Maria outright laughed, "Too late kid. She already has."
"Begin in 3... 2... 1..." Fury's voice said over the loud system, "Begin the battle between Black Widow and Scarlet Witch."