Hi, sorry! I know I said that I'd upload the next chapter on Sunday but I forgot that I am going on holiday. I didn't want to disappoint anyone though so I decided to upload it anyway. Thanks for any new reviews/favs/follows!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel characters in this story, only my OC's.
Translations:
Ma Soeur = my sister (French)
Oui = yes (French)
Bien = fine, alright, ok (French)
Cugino = cousin (Italian)
Dux = Leader (Italian)
Chapter 14 - Finding Out More
"Mr Stark, Director Fury has called for another meeting in half an hour," Jarvis alerted.
Tony was already awake. He had been for the most part of the night. The reason for this was simple, he had been working on something. Apparently, that something had to wait a little longer. Tony sighed.
"I'll be there in 10 minutes tops," he said, rummaging through his closet for more suitable meeting clothes.
"Should I awake Miss Brookes before it starts this time?" Jarvis enquired.
"Probably," Tony chuckled.
"Sir, SHIELD has found more information on the Familia de Superiores. Should I download the information from the SHIELD database?" Jarvis offered
"Wouldn't that be stealing, though, Jarv?" Tony gasped mockingly. Jarvis was silent and the man sighed, "No, let him tell us himself."
Ten minutes later, Tony, Natasha and Bruce were waiting patiently with Director Fury. He stayed motionless and impassive, watching the elevator with his good eye. They didn't have to stand in silence for much longer, however, as Lexy, Steve, Clint and Thor all came tumbling out of the metal box, chatting. Alexia seemed a little out of it, but still smiled at the sight of her teammates.
"Right. Glad you're all here, we have gathered information on members of the Familia de Superiores. Most of the original members are dead, but the families have lived on. The first is Russian. They were originally the mustle of the organization, the Alistatrovs. Their son was named Kazimir and was four when they disappeared, leaving their mansion empty," Nick explained.
"Isn't it kind of stereotypical that the Russians are the strong ones?" Clint raised an eyebrow.
"Don't look at me, I'm no writer," he shrugged, "The second is Japanese, the Kurosawa family. The youngest was 18 when he disappeared, his name was Akio. We have intel that he has connections around the world who are the eyes and ears for the group, seeing as they're in hiding. Then there's the Algerian Basara family. The 10 year-old, Karim, now about 40, has always been known for his intelligence. He hasn't got much tact, but his skill in mathematics and technology is unmatched. The Javier family, the French participants, have always been quite sneaky. We know that there are two of them currently within the organization, though we don't know anything about them," Fury continued.
"Great, so they could have any number of abilities and we could be going in blind," Tony muttered.
"All we know is that they are relatively young, they are brother and sister and they are not particularly involved in meetings or battles," the Director shrugged.
"Who else is there?" Lexy insisted.
"Francis Ainsworth, son of English Robert and Elizabeth Ainsworth, was in charge of the children with the abilities. After your escape, it seems the leader has favoured him less and less. He's rather excelled in the sciences, especially DNA modification."
"And who's the leader?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"There are two Italian families in the Familia de Superiores: the founders, the Sanguines, and their close relatives, the Albertelli's. We have no idea who in those families are still alive, as they are the most discreet and exclusive families. However, an estimated guess would be that the Sanguines are in charge with the Albertelli's being second-in-command," Fury finished, "We're still scowering the globe for more information. There could be many more for all we know."
"So how do we stop them? Do we know their location?" Alexia questioned.
"There are rumors that they own an island, but many people also say that they're living underground. We are trying to scan for both," Fury responded, "You can't do much now but I thought you'd want to stay in the loop," he suddenly looked at his watch and held his earpiece, which none except Natasha had noticed, "In the mean time, there's a bank heist downtown organized by the Serpent Squad."
"Let's go," Tony announced.
"Elise, what are you doing?" Elliot Javier called as he climbed into an underground bunker.
The pale and sickly girl glanced up and smiled weakly before letting her head hang again. Her long fingers held a sharp pencil and a notepad waited patiently before her.
"I am writing," she replied faintly.
"What are you writing about, ma soeur?" he asked more gently as he approached her, peering over her shoulder.
"I want to record everything that happens with the Familia. In case something happens. In case they betray us," the girl muttered.
"Elise, we are one of them, now. We are an accepted part of the Familia. They will not leave us behind," Elliot assured.
"How can you be so certain? Father betrayed us," Elise reminded bitterly.
"Oui, but he also betrayed the organization. They were affected as much as we were," Elliot countered softly.
"I will still write a diary," Elise decided.
"Bien, but nothing will happen," Elliot promised.
Elise ignored him and continued to wrote in French. Her occasional coughs and the slight shake of her hand proved that she was truly ill. Elliot worried often, but, despite her disease, the girl had a strong will. She did not trust the Familia De Superiores as she believed she knew their true souls.
"Maria!" Strazio Sanguine called into a room draped in red.
From behind a velvet curtain, the blonde woman stepped out. Her make up was perfect, with dark red lips and gracefully curled eyelashes.
"Yes, cugino?" she smirked.
"You have been very rebellious lately. I came to remind you who is in charge," he declared.
"Oh? And who is on charge, Straz? Honestly, I'm not sure, because you definitely haven't been leading us lately," Maria countered, her strapless crimson dress billowing in the soft breeze drifting through a window.
"May I remind you who founded the Familia de Superiores? Was it the Albertelli's? No, it was the Sanguine's! Has a Albertelli ever been a Dux? No, it has always been the Sanguine's! Whether you like it or not, I am the Dux and you are nothing more than another member of the Familia," Strazio hissed.
"I bet the other members would disagree. Even the Dux Prioris doubts your ability to rule," Maria scoffed.
"Father does nothing of the sort. He is only testing me. You! You are a test, aren't you? He set you up to this!" Strazio accused angrily.
"Trust me, Strazio, no one told me to do anything. No one needs to test you for you to show your cruel nature," the woman laughed.
Her soft chuckles were cut short when a sharp thwack silenced the room. The billowing blood red curtains stopped their peaceful movement and the cream carpet welcomed their owner. Maria grunted and pushed herself into a sitting position, her dress smothering her legs. The blonde gently placed a hand on her stinging cheek and glowered up at the man, who's eyes portrayed remorse despite his expressionless face.
"What did that prove, Straz?" she spat, "Did you show your manliness, your strength? We are already set against you, there's nothing you can do."
Strazio opened his mouth to speak but snapped it shut when he realized his cousin could well be speaking the truth. He stormed out of the red-soaked room, leaving Maria alone on the floor.
"Lexy?" Tony called as he stepped out of the elevator onto her floor, "You did inform her I was visiting her, didn't you, Jarvis?"
"Yes sir, she is currently in her bedroom."
At that moment, Alexia came strolling in, glancing at the man to show her interest. She plopped onto the couch and invited him to on the seat opposite her with a pat of the hand. He sauntered across the room.
"Jarvis said you wanted to talk toe about something," the brunette prompted.
"I just wanted to make sure you are ok. I know it must be hard to have to talk about the people that have... Taken so much away from you and I thought you might want someone to talk to," Tony explained, "You act normal in front of everyone and I just want to make sure you're alright behind the scenes."
"Tony, do you know why I try to stay positive?" Lexy queried.
"I presumed it was just your personality," he admitted.
"I watched my parents get murdered, 14 children who could've easily been me died during my 8 years of imprisonment, I was brought up to hide the only thing I was useful for and I recently saw the dead body of my best friend be removed from her home after being killed by a monster from my past, who I thought I left behind long ago but apparently knows who I am now. I don't have much reason to be happy, in fact, I've cried myself to sleep countless nights because of the things I've witnessed," she recounted grimly.
"I'm sorry, Lexy, I-"
"I don't need an apology. I've seen a lot of potential lives be lost because of dark forces who work under the cover of shadows. I should be paranoid, macabre, twisted, any number of traumatized flaws, but I'm not. I try and stay happy, funny and friendly because I survived. Friends and family die around me and somehow, out of everyone, I've stayed alive. That's why I'm positive and act normally, because the people that are dead were killed so that I can live. I need to respect them by living my life to the fullest, as if they were living my life with me. Lately, it's been hard to be happy and positive. Erin had become a constant in my life and one of the only people I could trust. I feel like I disrespected her when I was unable to confide the biggest secret of my life before the man in the mask assassinated her. I try and be happy, though, because I know that that is what they would've wanted, their sacrifice not to be in vain," Alexia finished.
There was a silence between the two as Tony took in this information. He stared into her bright green eyes and saw the innocence that had, since her early youth, been tainted by fear, death and darkness. Examining her properly for the first time in months, Tony was reminded of Lexy's stunning beauty. He had been so preoccupied since Pepper's departure that he had not realized that what he wanted was blatantly obvious and sitting before him.
"Alexia, I know that the thing you really don't want is an apology, I'm sure you've heard more than enough of them recently, but I truly am sorry. I swear, we will find the man in the dragon mask, as well as the rest of the Familia de Superiores and we will avenge the children they killed, as well as the children they brainwashed and for what they did to you and Dylan," he promised honestly.
Alexia breathed a sigh of relief at his acceptance and smiled properly. Her face brightened when she smiled, and emitted a happy and intoxicating glow. Tony couldn't help but reciprocate.
"Thanks, Tony. Sorry to drop that bomb on you," she snickered.
"No problem," he murmered, unable to tear his gaze away from her, now calm, face.
Before either of them could say another word, the elevator slid open once again to reveal Natasha. She marched in before noticing the two and smirked.
"Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to ask Lexy if she wanted to train," the redhead chortled.
Alexia blushed, only just becoming aware of their closeness. Almost falling off of the sofa in an attempt to create some distance, Tony chuckled.
"I was just leaving anyway," he said, raising his hands.
He drifted past the spy and disappeared from the room.
"I-it wasn't what you think," Alexia excused herself lamely. Natasha raised an eyebrow.
Meanwhile, in lower Brooklyn, Paige was woleaving in and out of crowds in an attempt to finish a list of errands for Stark. Squashed by the sea of New Yorkers and tourists, the woman found herself shoved into a park entrance and accidentally bumped into a man in front of her.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed hurriedly before realizing who it was.
"Paige Seath?" he questioned.
"D-Dylan?" she gasped.
There you go! Hope you enjoyed! Please politely review and tell me what you liked/didn't like.