May 7th, 2015…
The thing that bothered Danica most was the silence.
The battle against Ultron had been chaotic, loud, overwhelming. They'd spent hours struggling to stop the genocidal AI, living in the moment through one disaster after another until they won.
Now, she, Wanda, and Pietro stepped through the empty streets of Novi Grad. Everyone not on the piece of city that flew had evacuated to the outskirts. Even now, as relief efforts came pouring in from the EU and abroad, the outer districts were left empty. Fears of structural collapse, or some hidden booby trap left by Ultron, kept everyone away. The trio, confident in their safety, ventured here to say goodbye.
Several buildings bore charred marks from Ultron blasters, their roofs shattered. They circled around a crumpled van, and Danica noted the ripped teddy bear sticking out from the windshield. Dust and rubble covered everything, and Wanda used her power to blow it out of their path.
After rounding a street corner, they came to it. Formerly the entrance to the market square, now the edge of a massive crater. It spanned nearly half the length of the entire city, its bottom so far any fall would spell death.
For several long moments, the trio stood rooted in place. Wanda covered her mouth, eyes watering with a hint of tears. Pietro, his shirt stained by dirt and bloodstains, pursed his lips in anger. Danica, meanwhile, felt empty. She fell to her knees, staring at the ruins of her home. The massive pit served as a reminder of the gaping wound in her soul, the weight of all her sins. She reached out with one hand and, dragging her fingers over the asphalt, gathered a pile of dust.
Danica stared down at it. They'd won the day, saved the world, but only at the last minute. Sokovia and its people had paid for their stupidity.
"Come on," Pietro said, touching both her and Wanda's shoulders. "We should be getting back."
Tilting her hand, Danica let the dust fall back to the ground. Ashes over a mass grave. Sniffling, she followed her friends back the way they came, stuffing both hands in her pockets. In the right, her brother's medal. A reminder of her family and all the good they stood for. In the left, Ultron's neural chip. A reminder of all her mistakes and everything she had to atone for.
Staring at the ground, she left the crater behind.
May 9th, 2015; Nidavellir…
Eitri took slow, heavy steps. His people were gathered all around him, on their knees. Hundreds of Chitauri stood around them or on floating battle chariots, rifles primed and ready. Outside, several gargantuan Leviathans circled the forge, their serpentine bodies weaving through the void.
Ascending the steps to the main platform, Eitri looked down at his latest creation. The Dwarves had spent millennia forging the greatest weapons in the universe for the Asgardian Royal Family. Their skills were unrivalled in the cosmos. The gauntlet he held might have been his finest work, designed to contain and harness the power of Infinity.
Ahead, Thanos and his retinue waited.
The Mad Titan stood resplendent in his golden armour, flanked by the vicious quarter of the Black Order. Despite their differing appearances and abilities, each of the five warlords regarded Eitri with cold, calculating eyes. The eyes of killers who'd spent centuries honing their craft. Now they had brought their evil here, to this sacred place.
Eitri knelt before Thanos, holding up the gauntlet. "Here, as you requested."
The Mad Titan took it, examining the golden device. "And you're sure it will work as promised?"
"Yes. I designed it according to your specifications. It is the only object in the universe that will allow you to control the energies of the stones."
Thanos smiled. "Excellent. You've done well, my friend."
With a furtive glance to his shackled people, Eitri said, "I have done as you asked. Now, free us!"
Thanos seemed to contemplate the matter, remaining silent. Then, he looked at his thin lieutenant, Ebony Maw. The balding sorcerer bowed to his lord, then floated in the air. "Hear me, and rejoice! You are, all, blessed to be witness to these extraordinary events. You have provided the final piece to a puzzle that will restore balance to this universe. Rejoice, for you are all about to become Children of Thanos."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the Chitauri opened fire.
"No!" Eitri cried, rising to his feet. The one called Cull Obsidian struck him with its clawed hammer, pinning him to the floor. He was forced to watch, horrified, as his people were slaughtered like animals. Their screams echoed in his mind as they forced him to look at Thanos. "You…you miserable bastard!" Eitri spat, tears running down his bearded face.
"Don't fret," Thanos told him. "I'm sparing you. Your life is your own. But your hands…your hands are mine."
Cull Obsidian forced him onto his feet and brought him over to one of the forges. Eitri stared into the cauldron of molten metal, eyes wide as he felt his arms being shoved inside.
He screamed and howled as Thanos continued to admire his new treasure.
May 15th, 2015; Upstate New York…
"What is this place?" Danica asked as she stepped out of the car. She, Wanda, and Pietro had been invited to join the Avengers and their friends for a special occasion. Ever since the Battle of Sokovia, as people had been calling it, the trio had returned to the U.S. and become 'guests' at Avengers Tower. It felt more like house arrest, but given everything that happened the last month, it could have been worse.
Stark replied, "Oh, just a little pet project of mine. Come on, I'll give you the tour!"
Danica shared an annoyed look with Pietro. Stark's presence had been an unwelcome part of this whole situation. They'd mostly forgiven him after their previous grudges, but a lifetime of hatred took time to dispel.
Captain America led everyone through the front doors of the facility. It was a modern design, with mostly glass walls in the atrium. During the drive, Danica hadn't been able to see the whole building. It must have been quite large. Once they were all inside, Stark turned to regard them. "Now that you're all here, I'd like to officially welcome you to the grand opening of the new Avengers Compound!" He spread his arms wide, as if performing a stage show in front of a live audience.
"Wait a second," War Machine, or James Rhodes, said, "Avengers Compound?"
Captain America replied, "The tower's been good until now, but it was built as a lab and luxury apartment. It's high time we had a purpose-built home base."
"Plus, the tower was always a bit too garish for my tastes," Black Widow quipped. Danica snorted.
"Anyway," Stark cut in, sounding a bit annoyed. "Allow me to give you the grand tour. I've put a lot of work into this, not to mention millions of dollars, so I am expecting five-star reviews from you people."
Wanda rolled her eyes as they followed him.
"This is a state-of-the-art facility," Stark explained as he led them through the various sections. "Fully functioning training and housing centre for the Avengers and all necessary support staff. Plenty of garages and hangars for Quinjets or any other vehicles, extensive laboratories and R&D department. Uh, what else? Gym, holding cells for any dangerous tech or supervillains, and I even threw in a library 'cause…why not?"
Danica had no words. She marveled at the expansive rooms, ultra modern technology, and virtually endless amenities. Stark hadn't been joking, since the compound must have cost a fortune. Apparently it had been an old Stark Industries warehouse for decades, and most of the money had gone into the extensive renovations and expansion.
After walking through the main hangar where the Avengers' last remaining Quinjet was parked, they entered the private Avengers wing. Bedrooms, meeting room, offices, and a common area that included a fully stocked kitchen and the largest flatscreen television Danica had ever seen.
"Alrighty, everyone take a seat," Stark said, gesturing around the common area. Danica sat on the nearest couch between Wanda and Pietro, while everyone else sat on chairs or decided to stand. Captain America joined Stark and crossed his arms. "Now that we're all together, there's a few items we need to go over. First and foremost is team membership."
Danica's eyebrows rose a few millimetres, her curiosity piqued.
Captain America looked at Stark, who gave a sad smile. "So, in what I am sure will bring everyone to tears, I have decided to take my leave from the Avengers."
His words seemed to take everyone by surprise, and a silence fell for several moments.
"I know," he said, scratching his cheek. "I can hardly believe it myself. But at the end of the day, I realize my hero days are behind me. There's a lot more good I can do besides blasting bad guys."
Hawkeye and Thor both took a step forward, and the former said, "I'm out, too. I've got responsibilities of my own. I spent long enough neglecting them while I was working for S.H.I.E.L.D., and it's time I hang up my cape, so to speak."
"And you?" Rhodes asked, jerking his chin at Thor.
"You will always be my friends and trusted comrades," the God of Thunder replied. "But I have a duty to my people, and to the Nine Realms. Time spent on Earth is time spent away from those who need me the most. And there are…troubling matters in the cosmos that I feel require my full attention."
Captain America nodded, touching Thor's shoulder. "So with that being said, that leaves just myself and Nat on the team. The reason we brought you all here today is because the Avengers find themselves with openings. Ultron left quite a lot of chaos out in the world. But more than that, we need to have a full roster if we're gonna keep doing what needs doing." He looked at Sam, Rhodes, and Vision. "You three have proven you've got what it takes. There's a spot open for each of you, if you're interested."
Danica watched them react to the old man's words. Vision stared at the floor in quiet introspection, while the two men regarded each other in silence. Eventually, they both nodded, and Sam told Captain America, "Alright, we're in."
Captain America nodded, smiling at his friend's words. "I'm glad to hear that. Vision?"
The android looked up and furrowed its metallic brow. "Presently, I do not have an identity that corresponds to any of yours. I do not possess a home or any personal amenities. Given the obvious capabilities of my current form, and the enormous power of the Mind Stone, I present a significant threat if held in the wrong hands. Therefore, I find it only logical that I accept your proposition, Captain. This location is the safest, most secure place for me to reside, and the Avengers are best-suited to handling my powers."
Danica blinked, trying to process the extremely machine-like way Vision spoke.
"Also," it added as an afterthought, "I am interested in learning more of how humans live and conduct themselves. This will be an excellent opportunity for observation."
Danica shared a bewildered look with Pietro. When she looked at Wanda, however, she noticed her friend staring at the android with deep fascination. Wanda had done the same just before they all left to defeat Ultron. It seemed the artificial being held special interest for her.
"We appreciate your honesty, Vision," Captain America stated. "And we promise to respect your wishes. As long as you're a member of the team, we'll support you with whatever you need."
"Thank you, Captain," Vision replied, inclining his head.
All eyes turned to Danica and her friends.
Pietro sighed, leaning back in the couch. "No, don't tell us," he said. "We get it. Now that you have your new team, this is part where we're thrown into one of your top-secret prisons?"
Captain America shared enigmatic glances with Stark and Black Widow. "That's one way this can go," he admitted. Danica appreciated the frankness. "But I'd prefer it didn't come to that. There's a spot for each of you in the team, as well."
Pietro froze, while Wanda's mouth fell open. Danica, for her part, looked at each of the Avengers gathered around them, new and old. Had she actually heard him correctly?
"Let me understand," she said, leaning forward. "You want us," she gestured to the three of them, "to become…Avengers?"
"Yes," Black Widow replied.
"Actual…Avengers?"
Stark pointed to Captain America. "Hey, don't look at me. It was his idea. I'm still in favour of the whole top-secret prison route."
"Look," the latter said, "when we get right down to it, you three made the right choice. You helped us stop Ultron and saved even more lives than we could've on our own. It took courage to do what you did, which is why I'm offering you this chance to keep doing the right thing." He sighed. "However, we also need to acknowledge the fact each of you committed several crimes while aiding Ultron in the first place."
Danica rubbed her knees, staring down at the floor. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't erase the memories of being Ultron's pawn. Even more than Pietro and Wanda, she'd been the biggest dupe of them all, convinced he cared for them and wanted to save the world.
"So, this is how it's gonna play out," Captain America continued. "If you decide to take the offer, there's a few ground rules."
"Non-negotiable," Black Widow added, her tone casual despite the seriousness in her eyes.
"You won't be full Avengers, not right away. There will be a six-month probation period. During that time, you'll each be assigned a mentor who supervises your training and assesses your performance in the field."
Danica frowned, and Pietro scoffed. "Let me understand something: you want us to have…babysitters? And somehow be happy with this?"
"You might have done the right thing in the end, but you also did a lot of damage beforehand. Not the least of which when you," Captain America pointed to Wanda, "mind-controlled Banner into wrecking half of Johannesburg."
Wanda, who'd been about to say something, closed her mouth and fiddled with the rings on her fingers. The original Avengers present all fixed her with firm stares. Hulk had disappeared during the final stages of the battle, Danica remembered, and no one had been able to find him since. Aside from her natural instinct to protect Wanda, she also understood their anger. If either Pietro or his sister disappeared or…worse, she'd be angry, too.
After a moment, Pietro nodded. "Okay, you make good point."
"You'll be given free access inside the compound," Black Widow said. "No restrictions. This isn't a prison, and we aren't Strucker. This place is supposed to be a home, somewhere you can feel safe. But anytime you leave, either on mission or for any other purpose, your mentor will accompany you."
Danica nodded, thinking about the other woman's words. "So who gets the pleasure of looking after us?" she asked.
"Pietro," Captain America said. "You're with me."
"I'm honoured," Pietro muttered.
Black Widow gestured to Danica. "I picked you."
Danica simply nodded, remembering their conversation back in Novi Grad.
Hawkeye jerked his chin in Wanda's direction. "You'll be stuck with me."
Wanda furrowed her brow. "I thought you said…?"
"I am retired," he confirmed. "So no field work. But Stark can give me remote access, so I can still assess your performance on missions. As for the other stuff, I'll be here every other week to help you train. Just think of me as a consultant."
Danica sat back, taking it all in. It felt like trading one master for another. Then again, they were correct. She and her friends had much to atone for. After helping Ultron nearly destroy the world, she wanted to do anything to erase that debt. It hung over her like a storm cloud, tainting her every waking thought.
And if she were being honest, the thought of becoming an Avenger had its appeal. For as long as she could remember, Danica wanted to be a hero. To help people. That had taken different forms, beginning with stealing food for Novi Grad's poor and joining political protests. It had grown exponentially when she and her friends agreed to participate in Strucker's experiments. Now with powers, she had the means and desire to help more people than she ever thought possible.
For as much as she'd detested the Avengers in the past, she now knew them in a different light. They used their powers and abilities to save lives, to help people regardless of borders or agenda. Fighting beside them in Sokovia had given her a taste of that life. Now she wanted more.
Making up her mind, she said, "Okay. I'll do it."
Wanda and Pietro looked at her in mild surprise. She touched the former's knee, giving the latter a smile. They must have been on the same page, as both nodded their agreement.
"Okay," Captain America said, placing both hands on his hips. "I'm glad it worked out this way."
Stark clicked his tongue. "And if this doesn't work out, we can always revisit the prison idea."
That night, after hours of conversation, debriefing with Maria Hill, and signing enough documents to make her hand cramp, Danica and her friends became provisional members of the Avengers. There was talk of a press conference, as well as the need for proper uniforms and equipment, but Captain America and Black Widow insisted on training for the next few weeks.
It all felt so surreal, Danica thought as they were guided to the living quarters of the Avengers' private wing. "Go ahead and pick one," Captain America told them, gesturing to the doors on either side of the hallway. "Find whatever's comfortable."
"Thanks," Wanda said quietly.
Danica eyed the various doors, unsure of which one to choose. She hadn't had her own room in 16 years, not counting the cell in Strucker's HYDRA base. When all had been said and done, that place was nothing more than a prison. In the end, she picked a door at random. After hugging Wanda and Pietro and wishing them a good night, she stepped inside.
When compared to almost any residence back home, the room felt luxurious. Spacious, with a row of windows tinted black. A queen-sized bed tucked against the far corner, with a plush chair and a table at the other end of the room. Danica walked over to the windows and pulled the blinds open. Staring out at the forest beyond, she took several deep breaths. It felt good to have a view of the outside world. That way, she didn't feel trapped in a concrete box.
"Please let me know if there's anything I can assist you with, Ms. Novak."
Danica whirled around, her breath hitching in her throat. She couldn't see anyone, even with her powers. "Who said that?" she said, frowning.
"I apologize if I startled you," the voice replied. It seemed to be coming from the ceiling.
"What are…" Danica started to ask. Then she paused, remembering something. "Wait a minute, I recognize that voice. You were with us in Sokovia!"
"In a sense. I have no physical body, but I was present with you and the other Avengers at Novi Grad. My name is F.R.I.D.A.Y."
"So you are, what? Just like Ultron?"
After a brief silence, F.R.I.D.A.Y. said, "No, not at all. Ultron was a fully formed artificial entity with adaptive intelligence. I'm a natural-language user interface created by Mr. Stark. He designed me to aid the Avengers with intelligence gathering, data analysis, and any and all general assistance while you're in the compound or in the field."
"Okay," Danica noted, some of her tension slipping away. "I guess I'll have to be comfortable with hearing another robot voice."
"Like I said, please let me know if there's anything I can do to make you more comfortable." F.R.I.D.A.Y. didn't seem offended. Despite the overall friendly tone, she seemed far more analytical and formal than Ultron. From the first minute, he'd never hid his emotions, his passions. Maybe that had been his greatest failing, Danica realized. Even for a computer program, he had been far too emotional.
In the end, it drove him to madness.
"Thanks," Danica said. "I'm, uh…I'm good for now."
"That's wonderful to hear. Have a good night, Ms. Novak. Captain Rogers has scheduled a training session tomorrow at 8:00am."
May 20th, 2015…
Danica struck with both fists, one after the other, striking the padded mitts Black Widow wore. They thumped from the impacts. The other woman's hair had been tied into a braid, and she wore a sleeveless hoodie with sweatpants. Danica had her hair in a simple ponytail, and had chosen a t-shirt and shorts for the occasion.
"Not bad," Black Widow said. "Again."
The compound's user interface, F.R.I.D.A.Y., had specifically said the training session was scheduled for 8:00am. However, Captain America had woken everyone at least half an hour before that. Danica had been enjoying a good night's rest in a proper bed, until Pietro had pulled her sheets off in a blink. He barely slept at all, with his body's insane metabolism and excess energy.
Her new 'team leader' had led them through a series of stretches and a jog around the facility. Warmup, he called it. Danica called it cruel. Fortunately, she'd copied the supersoldier and thus hadn't been tired afterwards. It still annoyed her to wake so early.
Now, she and her fellow recruits were in the midst of sparring with a partner. She, Wanda, and Pietro had been automatically paired with their mentors.
Exhaling, she primed another punch and lunged at one of Black Widow's padded mitts. The assassin leaned to the side, avoiding the strike and slapping Danica's face with a mitt.
She hissed. "Hey!"
"You overcommitted," Black Widow chided. "If you give your opponent any kind of opening, trust me, they'll take it."
Danica licked her chapped lips. "If you say so." After a few more minutes, she added, "I really don't see why any of us have to do this. Wanda can move things with her mind, Pietro can outrun anything, and I can always copy you or one of the others."
Black Widow narrowed her eyes a bit. "Alright, let's put that to the test. Copy me."
Focusing on the other woman, Danica saw her glowing pattern of nerves. Taking it into herself, she felt a little less tired, and stronger. Instincts she'd never had filled her mind, as well as a cold, quiet confidence.
"Now show me what you've got."
"If you say so."
Danica lunged, opening with a quick series of punches before raising her leg up in a kick. Black Widow blocked with one arm, prompting her to switch tactics. Everything else melted away as she focused on the two of them, using complicated kicks and agile flips. Her opponent backed up, giving more and more ground. Gripped by an ever-growing sense of victory, Danica rushed forward.
Black Widow tried to dodge, and Danica smiled as she aimed a fierce elbow strike. The former spun on her heel in a move that would put any ballerina to shame. She then backflipped into the air, landing on Danica's shoulders and clamping both thighs around her throat. Continuing the move, Black Widow curled and flipped Danica hard onto the mats.
She grunted, feeling the breath being driven from her lungs.
Gasping, she rolled onto her back and saw her mentor standing over her, hands on hips. "Not bad," she said after a moment. "But I've seen better." She offered a hand, which Danica took. "Your powers give you an edge. But even though you copy a person's abilities, you yourself don't have the experience to use them properly. Any idiot can pick up a gun and pull the trigger, and that does make them dangerous. But only someone with the proper training can shoot accurately."
Danica wiped the sweat from her brow. "So, what? I'm an idiot?"
"I'm saying you need practice. There won't always be someone like me or Steve or Thor you can copy to overpower the enemy. And sometimes the bad guys end up being stronger or smarter."
She furrowed her brow, the words giving her pause.
"If you had the same training as me, you could've had a chance to knock me on my ass just now," Black Widow said. "You need more than just copying how I throw a punch."
"So what do I do?"
"Learn. Practice. Steve and Clint will show your friends how to perfect their own styles. But you? You can diversify. Your powers make you a wild card. If I do my job right, I'll teach you how to mix and match fighting styles. Strong or fast, your ability to adapt is your greatest strength. The bad guys will have a harder time fighting you when they can't anticipate how you'll come at them."
Danica thought back to her battles against the Avengers, before she'd turned on Ultron. Thor, Captain America, even War Machine. For each, she had copied their strengths, their skills. And yet they would have defeated her, if not for the presence of her friends or Ultron. "Okay, you might be telling truth."
Black Widow shrugged, giving a cute, slightly smug, smile. "I try."
"We'll do it your way. For now."
They kept sparring for another hour, Danica learning different combos and martial arts styles. It felt overwhelming, taking in so much information at once. But she swore to master it all, even if it took the rest of her life. She'd never backed down from a challenge.
Finally, Captain America called a much-needed break. Danica, the back of her shirt damp with sweat and her knuckles and joints sore, joined Pietro on one of the benches.
"That was beautiful," he said, pointing to the area on the matts she and her mentor had been occupying. "The way you hit the floor, it was…spectacular." He punctuated his statement by wagging his eyebrows. Danica tried to suppress a smile and punched him in the shoulder.
"You're one to talk! I saw America's Golden Child put you on your ass three times. Or did I imagine those?"
Pietro snorted, taking a protein bar from his bag. Eating half of it in a single bite, he said, "Okay, okay, I guess we both need the practice."
"So I hear." They chugged from plastic water bottles, cooling down as the others either chatted or stretched. Danica suddenly realized that she and Pietro were sitting alone. "Where's Wanda?" she asked.
They looked around, until Pietro pointed and said, "There she is."
Danica followed his finger and noticed her friend standing near the open door, talking with Vision. The android had no need to exercise, yet it seemed he'd come to join them anyway. Perhaps he wanted to 'observe human behaviour', Danica thought, remembering his reasons for accepting an invitation to join the Avengers.
She watched her friend and the artificial being chat for a few minutes. Wanda seemed utterly fascinated, asking a dozen questions which Vision answered politely and succinctly. At one point, something he said made Wanda laugh, even though it didn't seem like a joke.
Danica and Pietro shared amused glances, chuckling.
"Hey Chameleon Girl!" Sam called from the equipment arrayed in the corner of the spacious gym. "Come on. Let's see how much you can bench."
Shrugging, Danica finished her water and moved to join him. "Is this going to be the hazing I kept seeing in American movies?"
"More to do with my curiosity than anything," Sam replied, guiding her over to the weight bench. "And don't do your glowy eye thing and copy Steve. Last thing I need is two of him making me look foolish."
"Don't worry, bird man," Danica replied. "I don't need superstrength to do that."
His eyebrows rose marginally. "Oh, it's like that, is it? Okay, prove it."
Danica laughed as she got in position. Maybe being a part of this team wouldn't be so bad.
May 23rd, 2015…
"And what is so exciting about this movie?" Danica asked, pouring herself a glass of juice in the kitchen. The windows around the living area had automatically tinted after 8:00pm, and the room's lights had been dimmed for the occasion.
"Because it's a classic," Rhodes replied from one of the couches. "I have yet to find a better four-member ensemble." He and Black Widow sat together, and Sam reclined on a nearby chair.
Pietro was still in the gym. A side-effect of his superspeed and high metabolism meant he didn't have the patience or ability to sit through a movie of any length. Captain America supervised him, despite the heavy workout that would've left a normal man exhausted.
Maybe he'd become Pietro's mentor because a super-soldier was the only one who could keep up with a hyperactive speedster, she thought.
"I love Kevin Kline in this," Sam said, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth.
Black Widow propped her feet on the table, which was laden with bowls of popcorn, chips, soft drinks, dipping sauces, and several kinds of alcohol. More than anything, Danica had agreed to attend movie night because of the large variety of snacks and drinks. "I never really saw the appeal of Westerns," the assassin said.
Rhodes sipped his Coke. "Oh let me guess, you're more into spy films?"
She gave him a mischievous smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Glass of juice in hand, Danica stepped around the kitchen island and entered the living area. "Hey, you gotta have one of these," Rhodes said, opening a pink box of doughnuts. They were all glazed and covered in colourful sprinkles, making Danica think of holiday decorations. Intrigued, she picked one and took a bite.
The delectable, sugary taste made her tastebuds tingle. The doughnut had a jelly filling that reminded her of Pączki, but not as rich. Still, the flavour was strong enough to almost make her cry. She groaned in delight, devouring the rest in two more bites.
Rhodes nodded as if proving a point. "Not bad, huh?"
"This is delicious!" she said.
"See, Sam? Jelly doughnuts are where it's at."
The other man shook his head. "Nuh-uh," he retorted. "If I'm having a doughnut, there's no way in hell it's gonna have a nasty-ass filling. Chocolate glaze is my pick."
Black Widow looked at Danica and asked, "Where's Wanda?"
"Still in her room. Watching television, I think."
"Why don't you go ahead and invite her? I'm sure she'd enjoy this. Even though it is a Western."
Rhodes half-glared at her for the remark.
Danica nodded. In the back of her mind, she assumed the assassin wanted to keep a close eye on their dangerous 'recruits', even though F.R.I.D.A.Y. seemed to be watching the entire compound. She couldn't fully erase the suspicion. "Sure. I'll go get her."
Setting her glass down, she padded over to the bedroom area. Hawkeye had left, and wouldn't be back for another week. That meant Wanda was restricted to the compound at all times unless the other Avengers took her into the field. Getting out of her room to watch a movie might actually cheer her up a little.
Approaching her friend's door, Danica knocked before turning the knob. "Wanda? The others are having a movie night in the living area. It's called 'Silverado' or something. Do you want…"
She trailed off when she saw Wanda sitting cross-legged on the bed. Beside her, dressed in a casual grey sweater and black pants, sat Vision. The clothing seemed quite strange on the android, creating a funny visual. The two of them looked like they had been smiling, perhaps laughing at something. Danica leaned to the side and saw an episode of Malcolm in the Middle playing on the television screen.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't want to interrupt…whatever this is."
"Vision was just…" Wanda started to say, pointing at her wall. "Well, he actually phased through the wall."
Danica blinked in surprise. "What?"
"I didn't mean to intrude," Vision quickly clarified. "I simply noticed Ms. Maximoff enjoying this program, and I desired her opinion on situational comedies."
"What were you saying about a movie night, Dany?"
"Uh, just something Rhodes and Wilson put together. They wanted to know if you were interested, but I'll tell them you're busy."
Wanda gave an apologetic smile. "If you would? We were just about to start another episode."
"I am quite interested in exploring the comedic value of serious injuries and social embarrassment," Vision added, pointing at the television.
Danica nodded, backing out of the room. "Not a problem. I'll just leave you to it. Have fun," she said in a sing-song tone she only used to tease her friends. "Don't get into too much trouble!" Wanda suppressed a grin and threw a pillow at her as she closed the door.
On her way back, Danica shook her head and smiled. It seemed Wanda's stay in the compound wouldn't be totally miserable.
May 24th, 2015; Paris…
"Is this a picture of your great uncle?" Ellen asked, gesturing to a black and white photo framed on the wall.
The man beside her smiled, holding a champagne flute. Handsome and debonair in his tuxedo, he replied, "Oui. It was taken towards the end of World War II. Uncle Jacques and his fellow Howling Commandos had just destroyed a HYDRA vehicle depot near the German border. They saved many lives that day, and for many days after that."
"He sounds like a great man," Ellen said, sipping her own champagne.
The piano music gently played in the large sitting room just through the doors. Men and women dressed in suits and glittering dresses had come to attend. Adolphe Dernier, a prominent government official, hosted society functions like this several times a year. Usually he tried to persuade the Paris elite to donate to the various charities he supported. Before her life had been ruined by Captain America, Black Widow, and Nick Fury, this was exactly the sort of crowd Ellen would have found herself in.
It hadn't taken much for her to create a fake identity. A few bribes, hiring a talented hacker group, and she was able to waltz into Dernier's home without incident.
They strolled through his study, admiring the artworks and old photographs. Mostly they depicted his great uncle, either alone or beside Captain America's other Howling Commandos. Every time she laid eyes on the Avenger, Ellen felt something deep within herself. A sort of longing and regret, as well as a persistent voice in the back of her mind.
She ignored it. This was the mission.
"I must admit, mademoiselle," Dernier said, finally drinking some of his champagne, "your tattoos are…quite beautiful."
Ellen smiled, glancing down at the serpent coiled around the rose on her right arm. She'd gone back to Baasan, appreciating his wonderful work. At her request, he had given her a new tattoo on her back. It depicted the head of Medusa, the serpents on her head hissing as if preparing to strike. The beautiful, deadly face was marked by black tears running from the corners of her eyes. Her backless emerald dress displayed it for all to see.
"Thank you, that's very kind," she said, glancing through the nearest set of doors at the rest of the party.
It would be happening any moment.
Dernier took another sip. "I was wondering if…"
He trailed off, his gaze becoming distant. Doubling over with a sudden spasm, he clutched the corner of his desk for support as he wobbled on unsteady legs. Ellen plucked the champagne flute from his hand, sniffing it.
"What…?" he said, groaning as the blood vessels in his eyes began to burst, reddening the sclera.
"Cyanide is quite nasty, wouldn't you agree?" she asked him, her expression neutral.
Dernier collapsed onto the floor, sputtering as he weakly tried reaching out to her. "W…Why?" he managed to ask.
Ellen looked down at him. "It's nothing personal. You're helping me deliver a message, and I don't want the recipient confused by its meaning." She looked at the nearest photo of Captain America, the voice in the back of her mind calling out like a baby bird lost in the wilderness.
At that moment, the doors in the main room were thrown open. Teams of armoured mercenaries, led by Killmonger, Baasan, and the recently returned Rumlow, filed in. The party guests collectively gasped and stumbled back, the music halting abruptly. Rumlow didn't waste any time, drawing a shotgun and shooting a woman in the chest. The other mercenaries raised their weapons and started gunning down everyone they could see.
As the guests screamed amid a storm of gunfire, Ellen strode over Dernier's corpse and tossed away both champagne flutes. Within minutes, every single guest and member of the household staff were dead, laying in expanding pools of their blood. The silence that fell would have chilled a person to their bones.
"Let's move out," Rumlow ordered, slinging the shotgun over his shoulder.
Ellen followed beside him, not bothering to look at the bodies strewn about the room. "How are the other groups doing?" she asked, her tone flat and emotionless.
"Everyone's reporting positive results so far," he replied. "Won't be long before the Star-Spangled Asshole hears about this." He leaned in close and whispered so none of the others could hear. "What's your mission?"
"To make Captain America suffer by destroying any of his friends or allies, or their families, then kill him as painfully as possible."
Though she couldn't see his face behind his mask, Ellen suspected Rumlow was smiling.
"That's my girl," he said, patting her on the shoulder. "You better buckle up, Princess. This is gonna be so much fun!"
As they left the luxurious residence and drove off in armoured SUVs, the voice in Ellen's deepest recesses screamed, raging within the confines of her own mind.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I decided to keep it generally low-key, since we're just coming off the intensity of the Age of Ultron climax. But never fear! There's always more action around the corner.
I'll keep working on next chapter, but it's likely going to be delayed a while. In addition to work, I'm suffering an acute case of Stranger Things withdrawal after that AMAZING season.
Anyway, I wish you guys well. See you next time!