Chapter 16 – Ultron (2015)
I smiled as I played pool with Sam and Steve during the celebration of retrieving the sceptre, it had taken a few months but we had succeeded, and now it was time to relax and have some fun.
"Nice shot" I smiled at Sam, he was brave and had stayed by Steve's side throughout the past few years and was trying to find Bucky.
"Thanks."
"I'm gonna go and mingle" I told the two men and started for the bar where Nat was bartending. I watched as she flirted with Banner before I decided to hang out with Clint instead.
"Hey little lady" Clint greeted me with a big hug. I laughed and then we sat down together. I was one of three people that knew about Clint's family back home, and only because I picked at his brain when he was on the phone to his wife. "Are you enjoying the party?"
"It's different to parties that I'm used to, but it's still fun" I replied. "How is 'you know who'?" I asked and Clint smiled.
"They're great. I miss them all the time but I can't just ignore the Avenging, it's part of who I am" Clint replied and I smiled. "What about…him?" I sighed.
"He's so confused and in so much pain" I replied while pickling at my nails. "Sometimes this power isn't so great" I admitted and Clint rubbed my back trying to comfort me.
"Are you gonna go and see him?"
"I want to, you have no idea how much I want to. But I can't" I said and Clint looked at me confused. "When I look at him I still see the weapon that hurt me and then killed so many people. I need to heal from that first and he needs to heal as well" I explained and Clint nodded before standing up.
"Enough talking, dance with me" he said and offered his hand. I took it with a smile and let him lead me to the area where people were dancing.
"It's a trick" Clint said from his spot on the floor while twirling a chopstick in his fingers.
"No, no, it's much more than that" Thor smiled as he passed a flask to Steve.
"Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power" Clint said in a voice that made me laugh. "Whatever man, it's a trick" Clint insisted.
"Well please, be my guest" Thor said as he motioned towards Mjolnir.
"Really?" Clint asked.
"Yeah" Thor said and Clint stood up and walked towards the hammer.
"This is gonna be good" Rhodes said.
"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up" Tony teased, which made everyone laugh.
"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint said and then tried to lift Mjolnir, when it didn't budge he smiled. "I still don't know how you do it" Clint said.
"Smell the silent judgement?" Tony asked.
"Please Stark, by all means" Clint waved towards him. Tony stood and undid the button on his suit before walking around the table.
"I'm never one to shrink from an honest challenge" Tony said. "It's physics" he told everyone as he wrapped the leather strap around his wrist and grabbed the handle.
"Physics?" I asked.
"So if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?" Tony asked.
"Yes of course" Thor replied.
"I will be re-instituting prima nocte" Tony said and then tried to lift the hammer. When it didn't work he stepped away. "Be right back" he said. I looked to Thor who seemed entertained by the little game that had been started. When Tony returned he had his Iron Man glove on and tried, but still wasn't able to lift it. He then recruited Rhodes to assist with his War Machine glove on.
"Are you even pulling?" Rhodes asked.
"Are you on my team?" Tony returned.
"Just represent, pull" Rhodes said.
"All right, let's go." Next up was Banner who tried to lift Mjolnir but he couldn't either and pretended he was going to Hulk-out but Nat just shook her head. Steve was next.
"Come on Cap" Tony said. I noticed Mjolnir move just the slightest, Thor did too but nobody else seemed to notice. Steve tried one more time before taking a step back and raising his hands in a surrender.
"Ha-ha, nothing" Thor said as Cap sat back down. Everyone looked to Nat.
"Widow?" Banner asked.
"Oh-no-no, that's not a question that I need answered" Nat said and leant back while taking a sip of her drink.
"Lanie?" Steve smiled. I shook my head.
"No thanks, I don't believe I'm worthy to wield Mjolnir so I won't even attempt to lift it" I told them and had another sip of my drink.
"All difference to the man who would be King, but it's written" Tony said.
"You bet your ass" Clint said as he walked past Tony and patted his shoulder.
"Steve, he said a bad language word" Maria teased.
"Did you tell everyone about that?" Steve asked Tony.
"The handle's the imprint right? Like a security code?" Tony asked. "Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprint is I think the literal translation" Tony stated.
"Yes, well that's a very, very interesting theory" Thor said as he stood and walked over to his hammer. "I have simpler one; you're all not worthy" he said as he picked up Mjolnir and flipped it in his hand. Everyone booed, scoffed and laughed at Thor's insinuation before a loud ringing noise made everyone hold their ears. We all turned when we heard footsteps downstairs, and saw one of the robots from the Iron Legion standing there.
"No, how could you be worthy? You're all killers" The robot said with oil dripping down its metal body.
"Stark?" Steve asked.
"Jarvis?" Tony said, trying to get his A.I's attention.
"Sorry I was asleep, or I was a dream" the robot continued.
"Reboot, Legion. I got a buggy suit" Tony said to Jarvis, who was nowhere to be seen.
"There was this terrible noise, and I was tangled in, in strings. Had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy" the robot said.
"You killed someone?" Steve asked. I stayed behind Steve, I wasn't going to be of any use to fight this robot. Robot's don't think.
"Wouldn't have been my first call. But down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices" the robot replied.
"Who sent you?" Thor asked.
"I see a suit of armour around the world" the robot replayed Tony saying. I looked to Tony just as Banner did.
"Ultron" Banner said.
"In the flesh, or, no, not yet. Not this, Christmas. But I'm ready" he said. I noticed Maria cock her gun and stand up as Ultron kept talking. "I'm on a mission."
"What mission?" I asked, peering out from behind Steve.
"Peace in our time" Ultron replied and three of the Iron Legion came bursting through the wall behind Ultron and came straight at us. Steve kicked up a table to use as a shield as I ducked away and ran straight towards Clint as the battle began. I couldn't keep track of where everyone was but at one point I heard Maria call out for Rhodes. I ran with Clint towards a table and slid under it with him to avoid the Legion.
"We've gotta get Steve his shield" I told Clint who spotted it across the room.
"Are you serious?" Clint asked and I answered with a shrug. He sighed and then we got up and ran across the room, dodging the Legion and finally reaching the shield. "Cap" Clint called out as he threw the shield in his direction. Steve caught it and threw it at the final Legion robot.
"That was dramatic. I'm sorry, I know you mean well, you just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to evolve? With these?" Ultron picked up one of the Legion robots and squeezed its head. "These puppets. There's only one path to peace. The Avengers extinction" Ultron stated. Thor threw his hammer at Ultron and he fell to pieces on the floor. "I had strings but now I'm free" I heard Ultron say. I seemed to be the only one who noticed though as everyone just looked at each other.
Author's Note:
I sincerely apologise for the delay! My life has been crazy these past two months and I still have two assessments to finish over the next two days and I'm freaking out because they're both only half-done.
I did warn you all that the updates would be a bit delayed but I didn't realise how insane my life would get with a full-time job and full-time study, I guess I overcommitted myself a little bit. But I promise that I won't have a two month break again! At least not without warning you first.
To those that are still reading this; I love you!