A/N: Woot! Two chapters for you tonight. Working on the third as I post this one. As always, feed back is appreciated.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers, they belong to Marvel. I only own the OC's
Arista had been given permission to take her belongings upstairs to her quarters. She was now locked away in the room she had been appointed. Eager to change out of the flowing dress Mellissande had given her to wear. It was too light, making her feel exposed. She hated feeling vulnerable. It made her feel weak. Laying her armor out on the bed, she shed the gown. Picking up her chest piece, she slid her arms through the leather straps that held the front and back together. Buckling the sides, she felt the tension in her body ease as the cool metal hugged her body.
She felt Mellissande enter the room. "I figured you were in here doing that. You know you don't need your armor here in the tower." She said walking up to Arista and helping her buckle her shoulder plates. "We are safe at the moment." She finished, running her fingers along the intricate cobalt blue lines that etched their way around the cool silver armor.
"Yes, I know, Mel. But it is better to be prepared and not need it, than to need it and not have it." Arista said as she pulled on a pair of shorts. "That is one lesson I learned a long time ago." Pulling the skirt over her shorts, she buckled it at her hip and straightened out the armor plated blue fabric. She pulled her knee-high leather boots on and pulled the laces tight. "Much better." She said with a smile.
"And don't freak out, but Tony sent word to another of his friends for help. He said they should be here within the hour." Mellissande said as Arista pulled her long hair into a high pony tail.
"Do they think we can't handle this ourselves?" Arista asked strapping on her gauntlets.
"As you said before, Risty. It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." Mellissande said with a smile. Arista gave a smile as well as she walked to the door.
"I know what I said. But I guess we shouldn't question them." Arista said as she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. "If they think they need the help, then let them call in whom ever they wish."
"Exactly, my friend." Mellissande said falling in step next to the petite woman. Greatful that she had chosen not to strap her weapons when she opted to wear her armor. But knowing Arista the way she did, she knew the woman felt more comfortable being in her battle gear.
They made their way into the main room of the floor where a less than enthusiastic Tony was pouring himself a drink. He turned and looked at them with a smile. "Ladies." He said tipping his glass towards them and taking a drink. "Maria just got a call from Jane. Point Break and Reindeer Games should be here shortly. They got on a jet about an hour ago." He said with a sigh, taking another drink.
"Should we expect another round of stares in that stuffy little room when they get here?" Arista said getting awkward stares from Bruce and Tony. "If so, you can count me out." Walking over to a stool, she sat down and crossed her arms over her chest. Her glacial eyes sweeping the room.
"Is she always like this?" Tony asked sitting in the stool next to Arista. Looking her up and down. "And I'm definitely digging the armor. You'll fit right in with the misfits here." He said smirking. Noticing that she was now picking at a spot on her arm guards.
She stood so fast that the stool crashed to the floor, catching the attention of the others in the room. She could feel the rage pour over her skin as her eyes began to light up. "Who are you to think you can judge me?" She asked advancing on him. He stood his ground. Swirling the ice cubes in his glass before taking the last drink. "I came here to help you with the problem you are having. You should be thankful we came to assist you." Another step. "But instead you act as if you don't need us." Mellissande laid her hand on Arista's shoulder to stop her advance.
"Calm down, Risty. He was just having fun. If you would open up and feel, you can see that he doesn't mean what he says." Mellissande said in a calm voice. Causing Arista to stop in her tracks. Turning to look up at her friend, Arista took a breath. Calming herself enough to give her a small smile. Opening herself up to the feel of the room, she found Mellissande to be right. Only now the air of the room was laced with tension. Caused by her outburst.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark." She said turning back to Tony. "I'm not usually this tense. But it has been quite a while since I've had to be in your realm." She gave him an apologetic smile. Picking the stool back up, she ran her hands down the front of her armor. Sitting back down she looked to Mellissande. "Mel, I'm pretty sure there will be another attack soon. Sylus never waits very long when he wants something."
"Sir, you have guests in the lobby requesting access to your elevator." The voice of Jarvis interrupted. "Shall I allow them access?"
"Thank you, Jarvis. You can go ahead and let them in." Tony said swirling his ice cubes again. "I still don't like the fact he brought Reindeer Games with him. But, if he thinks the man rehabilitated, then who am I to question." He said looking at the two women in front of him. Arista furrowed her brow, as if in deep thought. Tony saw a hint of something pass her cold eyes.
"They are Asgardian." She said plainly, as if she was referring to the weather.
"How did you know?" Tony questioned the woman. Turning his attention to Bruce who sat on the couch, who in turn shrugged.
"It's one of her many talents, Mr. Stark." Mellissande said smiling at him. "She is remarkable, really. Always keeping everyone on their toes." As she finished her sentence, the elevator doors opened, revealing two men. "Thor?" She asked more to herself than anyone else. Earning her a questioning look from Arista. The broad, blonde man stepped out, blue eyes taking a moment to sweep the room. Falling on Mellissande, a spark of recognition crossed his gaze.
"Mellissande!" He boomed bringing his arms up and welcoming an embrace from the lithe blonde. "I was not informed you would be here. We would have come sooner had Tony sent word of you." Looking to Tony, Thor released Mellissande from his powerful grasp. Tony shrugged.
"And I did not know you would be gracing us with your presence, Odinson." Arista said with an air of disgust. Spitting out the last part like it left a bad taste in her mouth. "I'll be in my room if anyone needs me." Standing up, she turned and stormed off toward the hall that her room was in. Dark hair whipping back and forth with each step she took. Everyone heard the door slam as she entered her room.
"Well that went well." Tony said striding to the bar to refill his glass. "Nice going, Point Break. You have somehow managed to piss off probably the scariest person here. And you haven't even been her five minutes yet. I think that's a new record." Walking back to his seat, he took a drink. "And yet, I'm intrigued." He said with a questioning look to Mellissande.
Mellissande shook her head, signaling that it wasn't the right time for an explanation. "Maybe later, but for now, just let her be. She has her reasons." She said ending the conversation before it started.
Arista later found herself in the facility training center. Armed with her sword and knives. Slashing and hacking at one of the many motorized dummies. Moving her way through the training course that had been set up. Two stationary targets had popped up, spinning with a few daggers clutched in her left hand, she released, imbedding the small knives into the heart of the bullseye. Three more moving dummies came at her. She easily dodged the 'attack' and severed the 'head' of the closest one. somersaulting back and landing on her feet, she thrust her sword into the second's 'chest' disengaging it, and spun around to the third. She decided she would get personal and drop her sword with a loud clang to the concrete floor. Gripping the knife at her hip, she lunged for the last one. Slamming her palm into the mechanical contraption, knocking it back a good four feet from the at it as it advanced once again, she forced the blade into the chest panel, and slammed her palm into the hilt, lodging the weapon even further in. The 'attacker' fell to the ground.
Pulling her knives from all the dummies and collecting her sword, she heard the mechanical whirring of the targets and dummies resetting themselves. Even the hardest setting hadn't been a challenge for her. The sound of clapping pulled her from her thoughts. She spun on the spot, gripping the hilt of her sword harder. Silently cursing herself for not being alert enough to sense someone had entered the room.
"That was impressive, ma'am." A man with dark blonde hair said walking further into the large area she had been sparring in. "I haven't seen anyone that good since I met Natasha." He said coming to a halt about six feet from her. He towered over her. Taking in his warm blue eyes and muscular build, she relaxed. She decided he was a friendly. "I'm Steve. Steve Rogers." He said Extending his hand.
Hesitantly she accepted his gesture with a firm grip of her own. "Arista Rayne." She said shaking his hand. "But that wasn't even a challenge." She said picking up the rest of her knives from the floor that she hadn't used.
Moving toward the door she turned and was surprised to see that Steve was following her out. "Your friend said you didn't take too well to Thor and Loki showing up. So I figured I would come make sure you were ok." He said holding the door open for her like a gentleman.
Giving him a warm smile, she walked out of the room and waited for him to follow. The walk back to the elevator was silent. Along with the ride up to the penthouse. As the elevator doors opened, she heard Mellissande's voice. Peering around the room, she spotted her friend in a heated debate with Tony.
"And I told you, she would come out with it when she feels it necessary. Until then, you can stop pestering. I'll say it again, it is not my place to tell you. End of discussion." Mellissande said crossing her arms over her chest and pulling to her full height. Arista walked further into the room and took stance next to her friend. Giving her a questioning look. "Tony here won't stop pestering about your issues with Thor." She stated matter of factly. "And I won't disclose that information. It is not my place." She said with a sigh.
Arista looked around the room at the questioning glances. She knew she would have to eventually tell her secret. She had just hoped that right now wouldn't be that time. Pulling herself up to her full five foot two, she prepared herself to the story she had to tell. "If you guys want to know, you better take a seat."
Taking a deep breath she jumped into the tale of her imprisonment. "Let's just say I'm a very bad person. I did some things that I really don't want to talk about right now. That's a different campfire story." She said sitting in one of the chairs littered around the room. All eyes on her. "When I was sentenced, Odin was present. He assisted the council with judgment. Passing the sentence of a lifetime in prison. In fact, he urged for it. Mellissande is the one who appealed to him when she found my skills useful." She said with a distant look in her eyes. Memories flashed. Her clear, cold eyes narrowing at her train of thought, as a particular memory flashed.
She had been in her cell for several days when a guard came to collect her for trial. Shackling her wrists and ankles and fixing a muzzle over her mouth. Grabbing her harshly by the shoulder, the guard shoved her into the long hallway that led to the room where she was to be sentenced for her crimes against her people. She shot the guard a menacing look as she began her slow walk toward the steel doors at the end of the hall.
She heard a metallic 'click' as the doors were unlocked and pushed open, revealing the twelve members of the Council, along with a man she had never seen before. She turned her fierce gaze to the unknown man and took in his stern features. Light hair that had been overtaken with silver, blue eyes, chiseled jaw. She knew in her soul she should fear this man. Just by looking at him she knew he was powerful. But her blood wouldn't let her show fear.
"Arista Rayne, you have been brought before the High Council to hear the ruling for your treacherous actions against your race." Azrael said, his powerful voice filling the enormous room. "Odin, Kind of Asgard, is here to help with the decision." He said motioning to the end of the panel to the unknown man. So that's who he was. "Please, remove the muzzle."
The guard produced a small key from his pocket and unlocked the mouthpiece that inhibited her from talking. He pulled the metal from around her mouth and backed away. She stretched her jaw letting it crack back and forth before she broke out in a devious grin. Azrael stood and and a disgusted look crossed his stern features. "Miss Rayne, how do you plead?" He asked leaning down, a sinister look in his eyes.
"Not guilty." She said plainly, giving an innocent look. "They deserved what they got." She smiled sweetly.
The assortment of men and women that made up the High Council looked appalled. Whispering amongst themselves while her smile turned to a twisted version of the sweet innocent one of before. "I move that we sentence her to death." One of the whispered. "I agree." Another confirmed. "QUIET!" Odin's voiced boomed over the frantic voices of the others. "I say let her live with the decision she has made. I say give her a lifetime in prison. Death is too easy. Let her brood." He suggested earning approving nods from the others.
"The decision is made then." Azrael said looking down on Arista once again. "Eternal confinement. Bound and muzzled until such day that her life expires." A satisfied grin spread across his face as the guard fit the muzzle back around the base of her skull and over her mouth. But not before a smirk crossed her lips. She shot a piercing stare at Azrael, threatening him with her eyes. He cringed under her stare, satisfying her need to instill fear once again.
Odin stood as the guard grabbed her once again shoving her into the direction he wanted her to go. Before the steel doors closed she looked over her shoulder, shooting a menacing glare at Odin, who nodded back at her. Taking sanity in the darkness in her cell.