Author's Note: In the comics, the real life Riker's Prison is Ryker's and has a dedicated section for superpowered prisoners.
Chapter Text
Steve's POV
Steve couldn't help but consider himself impressed as he watched Holly not just spar against Natasha but Barton as well. She was using a double bladed lightsaber, the sword of light that Thor had spoken of. He was vaguely familiar with it and wondered if the new one Stark had made for her was created with his ARC technology, its blades a bright blue. It allowed her to deflect Clint's sparring arrows which didn't pierce but still packed a whollop and that of Natasha's Widow Bites.
She moved like a dancer and a gymnast in one as a choral theme was played over the loudspeaker. It was a far cry from the college professor he'd met only hours earlier. She adapted and defended, planned and attacked. She was fully concentrating, not letting the cheers from the group watching the sparring distract her nor did she concentrate completely on using her lightsaber or even her telekinetic abilities. She made use of whatever was available, even grabbing and pulling Natasha's arm to use one of her sparring Widow Bites on Barton. If this was her after being inactive for nearly 13 years, he was curious to see her at her peak.
Both Stark and Coulson looked like proud older brothers, arms crossed as they watched the fight. Even Trip looked like a proud brother, her fellow Commando legacy. He was speaking quietly to the young agent that had been introduced as simply Skye. Thor and Sif looked impressed, murmuring to each other and cheering loudly as Holly knocked Hawkeye to his knees and used his body to vault over and use both feet to kick Natasha into the padded wall, landing effortlessly on her feet, twirling the bright blue saber, a grin on her face. It was obvious she was enjoying being back with her friends again.
"She hasn't lost her touch." Bobbi Morse, aka Mockingbird spoke from his shoulder, absently twirling one of her batons in her fingers. "Hard to believe she's been inactive for so long."
"I'm sure people said the same about me and I was inactive for 70 years, not 12."
"Sorry Captain, I didn't mean to imply anything." Her eyes widened and she ducked her head in embarrassment.
He shook his head. "No apologies necessary. I'm amazed at her skill."
"This has been her life, till a few years ago. Her brother was an expert in hand to hand as well as swords. I only ever got to see them fight together once. We were sent in to stop terrorists who had taken over Ryker's prison in NY. You'd have thought they shared a mind. It was actually quite beautiful."
"You knew her brother?"
Bobbi nodded, her eyes on the fight. "Yeah. Edward Dugan. Codename: Deathsword. He was a legend. He recruited Hawkeye. Actually got to spar with him once when I first started with SHIELD. He wiped the floor with me and I couldn't have been more happy. Director Dugan, their father, was a legend too, but I never met him. Rumor is that he was the one who recruited Fury."
Steve nodded, impressed. "And their mother?"
"Rose Dugan, codename: Shadow Dancer. She was the one they got their physicality from and where Holly got her mutant gene. She was a Lakota Sioux and Holly looks just like her. Between her and their father, they were formidable agents." She broke off and stood with the others as the session ended, Holly bowing to the crowd before elaborately twirling her saber and shutting it down before helping Natasha to pull Barton to his feet. The archer used their help to pull both women into a three way hug. It spoke of affection and familiarity. Holly had mentioned being apart of the assault team Strike Team Delta with the pair years ago. Apparently they had stayed close.
"Director, we're approaching the landing site. ETA 20 minutes." Agent May's voice came over the loudspeaker.
"You heard the lady. Everyone, suit up." Coulson said, moving forward to the quietly chatting trio who were discussing their mock fight, complete with hand gestures. "Holly, I have your uniform for you if you'll follow me."
Holly let out an amused laugh and shook her finger at the man. "I knew you would!"
"I don't like to disappoint." The director said with a small smile, indicating where he needed Holly to follow.
Holly's POV
"How does it feel?"
Holly looked up to see Coulson leaning against the wall outside of the small room she'd been given to change in. Her uniform hadn't changed, practically stolen from the Star Wars movies except that she generally didn't wear the robe and it was more form fitting, not as bulky. Plus there were all the gadgets and weapons she had in addition to her training, telekinesis and saber. "Feels like old times."
"Your spar went well. I'm glad you came with us."
She shrugged. "Tony didn't give me a choice really. I'm just wondering how the hell you, Nat and Tony came up with this cockamamie scheme to get me back in the field."
"Actually, it wasn't really a scheme, more just how things fell together." He adjusted his cufflinks. "You know Fury wanted you for the Avenger Initiative from the start."
She snorted. "Yeah, to help keep Nat, Clint and Tony in line."
Her old handler smirked. "Largely. But in the end, this is what you were meant for. You know that. It's time. Are you ready?"
She took a deep breath. "Yeah. Yeah I am."
"And you are going to be fighting with Captain America, can you imagine what your dad would think?"
She chuckled. "He would be over the moon."
"What do you think of him, now that you've actually met him? Really."
She shook her head. Phil Coulson was a gossiping little girl when it came to Captain America. "The stories didn't do him justice. And I think the thing I like most about him is he really is that kid from Brooklyn. A regular guy."
Coulson grinned. "Yes! That's what I thought too."
Amused, she started walking with him toward the main part of the plane where everyone would be getting prepared. "Let's get back to everyone before you start gushing and writing poetry."
Steve's POV
"Wow, it's really hitting me that I'm going to be going into a fight with Captain America. This is really kinda awesome."
Steve looked up from where he'd been adjusting the knife he kept in his boot to find that Dr. Holly Dugan was gone and standing before him was Lady Skywalker, Agent of SHIELD. She was dressed in what could only be described as a kind of dark tan gee, not quite as skin tight as Black Widow's catsuit. It was similar to what Agent May wore, except the top was longer. The belt no doubt had many of the same gadgets that Black Widow and Hawkeye made use of and strapped to her leg was a collapsible wooden staff and her boots held multiple knives. Having seen her make use of a wrist holster earlier in the spar, he was sure there were more hidden weapons on her person, no doubt her knee high boots were filled with tricks. It was smart to see she planned for contingencies.
"Lady Skywalker, how does it feel to be back?"
She grinned before looking down at her costume, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles. "It feels good, honestly. I've missed this old thing."
"I'm not that much older than you, twerp." Stark, in his Iron Man suit, sans helmet walked over. "You ready to fight, little girl?"
She rolled her eyes but still had a smile on her face. "You mean probably save your tin can ass? Sure."
"Coulson!? I'm going to throw Holly out of the plane, that's okay right?" Stark called out, playfully pulling Holly toward the hanger doors, her giggles taking a bit of the toughness from her appearance as they filled the hangar, even making the man pulling her grin. It was nice to see this part of Stark, the pseudo-older brother.
"Stark, play nice or I'll tell Miss Potts!" The director called back from the other side of the main deck of the plane, not even looking up from the table computer with a holographic representation of the Castle. He had a slight amused smirk on his face.
There was a chorus of "oooohs" from Black Widow, Hawkeye and even Banner who was looking over screens of schematics and scans, his own amused smirk evident. The Avengers, Earth's Mightest Heroes reduced to children. Even Thor and Sif were laughing.
"Shut. Up." Tony grumbled as he let Holly go. "You'd only win because Jarvis likes you better that me."
"That is correct, sir." The snarky AI spoke up.