A/N: I rewrote Chapter Four because I did not like it… so here it is rewritten, hope you enjoy, Chapter Five soon to come!
Chapter Four
**Flashback- Sometime In The Early 1940's**
I walked confidently up to the man guarding the front door of the VIP pub, watching Peggy out of the corner of my eye and I was grudgingly impressed by her strut - it certainly gave off the appearance that we belong here.
"Who are you?" The man grunted at us, raising the list of guests to match our names.
"Actually, we are not on the list." I said lowly so that only Peggy, the Guard, and I could hear. The statement had the desired effect of getting the Guard to look up with narrowed eyes, after which I caught him like a fly gets caught in a web. With his pupils dilated and a glazed over expression on his face, I made him repeat my words as I spoke them in the musical tone that comes over me when I compel someone.
"You are going to let my friend and I into the pub without causing any trouble. You are not going to tell anyone about seeing us or meeting us; you will not remember our faces or any description of us whatsoever."
The guard repeated my orders as soon as the words finished falling from my lips and I flashed a victorious look at Peggy as he unhooked the rope to allow us entry. She looked disbelieving, as if she had not expected it to truly work. I nudged her unnoticeably as we descended some stairs and entered a circular room with tables, music, and booze galore. My nose wrinkled in disgust from the oppressive cloud of tobacco smoke hanging in the air and Peggy shot me a questioning look because of the nudge I had given her.
"You looked out of it. What is our next move?" I inquired as I led her towards a bar, ordering a water for myself and Peggy ordered a lemonade. Peggy leaned forward to be heard over the music, careful not to speak too loudly in case someone was close enough to eavesdrop.
"The man we are searching for is Guntram Hagen. He is a scientist working for the German military, under one man in particular. We need to get his ID to swap it with the fake one I have for him, then I am going to use it to get into the base." Peggy summarized as quickly as possible, laughing as if I just told a joke that was semi-amusing.
The server brought our drinks back and I smiled in lieu of saying thank you to the waiter. I took a sip of water and set the cup back down, waiting until the waiter was far enough away to speak again.
"Do you have a portrait of the man we are looking for?" I wondered, hoping there was more to go off of then the sub par description provided in the mission file. My eye caught a small group making its way into the hallway leading towards the loo. I was struck by inspiration. Turning quickly to Peggy while hoping I don't have to explain myself, I expressed the urgency using my eyes and basic body language.
I casually made my way, an unhurried pace to ensure it did not seem as though there was anything crucial or untoward going on. I walked up to the men's lavatory with an exasperated look at the two men standing on either side of the loo. I grinned devilishly at them both before catching them in my compulsion effortlessly and command them to stay right in front of the door while Guntram and I had a little chat.
At the end of a trough line is the man, described by his file and promoted for it within his own, as a heinous fuck. Experimenting on humans like guinea pigs, the superiority complex the Nazi's have makes my stomach turn with quasiness. The oblivious twit still has not realized he is not alone; Only a fool places that much faith in another human being. The only person you can trust is yourself.
"Hello." I greeted, purposefully projecting my voice to be louder than necessary to startle the German.
"Who are you?" He asked, hurriedly trying to zip his trousers.
As soon as the button snapped and his trousers were secure on his waist, I flat out ran at him and gripped his posh tie in one hand, wrinkling the bloody thing as I lifted Gutnam with up forcefully. His feet dangled in the air, kicking at my shins harmlessly, and I wait until I have him under control to allow him to slump back to the floor.
"Stand up." I demanded with a sneer watching as he picked himself off of the ground. "Is there anyway to differentiate between your badge and this one?"
I handed him the badge and watched as he took his own, examining them closely side by side. I waited impatiently to see if Peggy's fake badge would pass the man's scrutinization. The man handed me the fake badge back and shook his head no to indicate there were no visible differences.
"Hand me your badge and take this one." I ordered, switching the two out quickly and stuffing the real one into my pocket. "Are there any pass codes? Anything at all someone should know in order to go there and not be caught trespassing?"
"Yes - there is a combination lock blocking access to the high value assets and prisoners. It has to be manually unlocked with the pass code as well unlocked remotely by a computer in the bridge." Hagan explained in a flat, despondent tone of voice.
"Do your bodyguards have their own key cards?"
"Yes." Guntram observed
"Wait here." I told him, not bothering to listen to him confirm the orders before I was marching over to the lavatory exit that leads to the hall. I pulled the door open and looked over both of the dazed looking security lackeys before unceremoniously yanking the shorter one inside the loo. I made eye contact impatiently, tapping my foot against the floor as I waited for the compulsion to take effect, watching as his eyes widened and my voice took on a musical lilt that was always there but much more noticeable while compelling someone. "Give me your badge. Now."
The munter reached into his dress shirt and pulled a necklace off from around his neck. On the laminated badge was the company name, his name, and the mailing address. I glanced at the pocket watch stored in the pocket of my Black Field Marshall coat and startled when I realized I have been gone from the dining area of the restaurant for almost ten minutes. I poked my head out to grab the third guy who was waiting in the hall with a lost expression.
Groaning in irritation, I grabbed the dim looking guard and pulled him into the Lav. I captured him in the compulsion as well, feeling the strain of trying to compel too many people at once, I quickly told them to completely forget about anything that happened the last fifteen minutes and to forget I even exist. Once they repeated the words I slipped out of the bathroom just as they began to blearily look around, dazed and lost as to how they got back there.
"Long bathroom break?" Peggy asked
I grinned at her, feeling pretty alive at the moment, excited to show her that not only did I get one badge, but two so I can come with her. I put one in a napkin, sliding it over to her easily, and she looked back up with excitement making her eyes appear to shine. I put another one in a napkin and slid it over as well, watching as she confusedly opened it and then I felt my smile falter when she folded the napkin back up and placed it on the table with a serious look on her face.
The excited feeling, the rush, I just recieved from getting the two badges was now sour, curdling like spoilt milk. For a second I forgot that I was a monster, I felt like any other person might - like I was actually making a difference. I should know by now not to believe in silly pipe dreams.
**End Flashback**
"You know you really should think about investing in a gun." Cam said casually, leaning up against a support beam as she watched me throw daggers toward three targets.
"Guns run out of bullets." I grunted, hurling two more daggers at a rapid fire pace, one landing in the bullseye while the other the next ring out.
"You can run out of daggers." Camilla responded and I ignored her in favour of figuring out what I was doing differently with my left arm than my right. Why was it always off by six inches. Camilla turned when the phone rang and I threw the dagger at the same time, missing the target and hitting a rock next to it instead. I gave Camilla the middle finger as she snorted in laughter on her way to answer the telephone.
I frowned as I saw the tip of the dagger had barely broken off but it still broke. Distantly I heard Camilla arguing with someone, which was not like her considering the only people she was comfortable with enough to get into an argument was myself and Piper. I tucked my auburn hair behind my ears, focusing my hearing on where she was in the kitchen.
"He just got home and signed your contract three weeks ago, why does he have to come in?" Camilla's frustration was clear to hear and I know that it was only because she worried.
I blurred, reaching Camilla in ten seconds for a normally two minute walk. Cam did not even look slightly guilty as she rolled her eyes, went to the fridge and pulled out a fizzy drink named Dr. Pepper.
"Auggie speaking." I greeted politely, ignoring the incredulous look give to me by Camilla.
"Harker. It's Romanoff. I need you to come with me, Fury's orders." Natasha said in clipped tones, obviously riled up by the woman who answered the phone. The same woman who was sipping Dr. Pepper and playing a game called candy crush as if she could not hear him.
"Where do you want to meet?" I asked while dodging the orange Camilla threw at me out of frustration.
"Where are you now?"
"Need to know, Romanoff. I can meet you outside Bethany, Connecticut."
"Connecticut?"
"Twenty minutes?" I asked, ignoring the question while walking towards my room to grab my bag.
"Twenty minutes." Natasha confirmed in a clipped voice before the phone went dead.
"I can't believe you are leaving already." Camilla said as she followed me down the hall.
I turned to face her, frowning at the anxious look on her face. "I know you are worried but this is something I must do."
"What if they betray? Just want to use you as a means to an end?" countered Camilla, standing in my door as I threw my daggers into my bag and then slung it over my shoulder easily.
"I would regret not knowing." I replied, facing her with a patient expression. "I know you are worried but SHIELD is not AIM, Cam."
"I just can't lose you. Not after everything." Camilla's voice broke on the word after and I felt a twinge in my stomach.
"I will always come back." I promised "I have been searching for too long to give up now."
"Just… be careful." Camilla sighed while moving out of the way so I could pass by.
"I will see you soon. Tell Piper to behave." I never promised to be careful because I was generally not a careful person. I hated lying to those I cared for, so I tried to avoid it as often as possible.
I walked out of the house and got into my car, throwing it into drive and booking it to Bethany. I arrived there with five minutes to spare, sending Natasha my location through my cell phone and walking to the only clearing she would be able to land in. I waited three minutes before she touched down on the ground.
"Nice to see you again." I greeted as I walked up the ramp to enter the jet and saw her sitting on a chair while reading through a file.
"And you, Dr. Harker." was the reply I received as I sat on the bench next to her. The pilot lifted us up and I studied the woman beside me, watching as she skimmed the file.
"What is this mission?"
"We are going to collect a member for the Avenger's Initiative from Calcutta." Natasha responded, finally looking up at me.
I did not know what to say and thus we lapsed into silence, the sounds of the jet in the background. I wondered who we were going to retrieve but decided it honestly did not matter in the end. I needed to play the good soldier and hopefully Fury will hold up his end of the deal. Maybe then this nightmare will be over.
"Is it true?" Natasha asked suddenly, making my eyes slide over to meet hers.
"I am not sure I understand your inquiry." I said, tilting my head slightly.
"You are a hundred years old but you look like a twenty five year old. You don't age."
I inclined my head, a wry smile twisting bitterly on my lips as I thought of how much more simple life had been prior to getting bitten. Prior to the internet as well. "Do they say anything else about me?"
"No, not really. Fury only said he has no idea what you are, that the file never says why you never age, but that you knew one of the founders of SHIELD." Natasha stated with a blank face.
"True on all accounts." I nodded, grabbing my cannister of blood from my bag. I had enough to sustain me for two weeks in the bag so I was not worried but despite the fact that I had fed recently, the burn in the back of my throat from sitting near Natasha was distracting.
"How does it feel to be immortal?" Natasha asked
"It feels as though you are running down a hall, to get to a door, but when you open the door… it is just another hallway lying ahead of you, a door at the end of it." I struggled to explain, unwilling to go into detail on how indescribable it was to live such a long life.
"How did it happen?" She asked, raising an eyebrow sardonically. "Fountain of Youth?"
"This is not a gift. It is a curse." I replied softly, staring at the wall as I thought about all of the murders I committed, watching people I loved slowly age as I remained the same as the day I had been bitten.
"Oh come on, people would die to live forever." Natasha said as she leaned forward a little.
"This is not living." I said outloud, more to myself. "I am a creature of nightmares, bringing death and darkness to the world."
"Creature?" Natasha said questioningly with a calculating look aimed at me.
"Never mind." I said as the pilot let us know we would be arriving soon. She did not take her eyes off me though I simply ignored her, internally I was cringing. I had said too much if I intended to maintain my status as an unknown with SHIELD. Berating myself for my loose tongue, I brought out a book from the bag underneath the bench I brought with me from the house and I cracked it open to read as a distraction.
We arrived in good time and I happily disembarked from the aircraft, hopping off of the ramp and landing on two feet soundlessly. We were in a covered area with enough space around us for three jets, two of which were already present before our own arrival. I turned to Natasha with a skeptical look as I observed the heavily armed men checking their gear.
"Are you quite sure we are recruiting someone and not storming a fortress?" I inquired while gesturing around at all of the soldiers around us.
"Hopefully they won't be necessary." Natasha answered as she walked past me in the direction of a barely noticeable path straight ahead of where I stood.
"That is not reassuring." I called after her back but received no response. Sighing in irritation, I walked in the direction she just went and followed her scent easily. Eventually I came to a small shack outside of the city and I leaned up against the side of it, waiting for Natasha to come out. The stars were gleaming in the sky and I picked out the Ursa Major constellation absentmindedly as I gazed up at them.
"Watching the stars?" Natasha questioned as she stepped out of the dilapidated home wearing a dark red tank top with a sarong around her waist and a long scarf around her shoulders.
"Why am I here?" I asked instead of answering the question, pointedly looking at her new attire before making eye contact. "I assume you are attempting to persuade whomever it is we are here to collect and the men who are spreading out around us are here as backup in case something does not go according to plan. So why me?"
"I don't question Fury's reasoning. I assume you're here as back-up." Natasha responded while she observed the area we were in.
"Who exactly are we here for?" I asked
"Dr. Bruce Banner."
One thing about a long life is that it is rare for something to startle or catch me off guard. Finding out we are here in an attempt to persuade someone who transforms into a raging, virtually indestructible, and uncontrollable green… something was enough to surprise me.
"Well at least it is a safe and easy mission." I quipped in a dry tone, the sarcasm not lost on the redheaded spy standing next to me.
"So you've heard of him?"
I snorted, shaking my head incredulously. "Shall we proceed?"
Natasha went off into a market for about an hour after I learned our goal, arriving back and informing me Dr. Banner should be arriving in fifteen minutes. She paid a street rat to request his aid and lure him to the bleak building, effectively getting him away from the more populated part of the city. Natasha gestured for me to come inside and I approached the doorway apprehensively. I do not think it should be a problem, considering the dwelling appeared abandoned, but I was still concerned the barrier would be up to prevent me from crossing the doorway. Attempting to seem nonchalant, I cautiously stepped into the doorway and internally sagged with relief when my foot met with no resistance. No one called this place a home so I was able to gain entrance without an invitation.
I ignored the quizzical and thoughtful expression on Natasha's face as I examined the inside, which had a lot of cloth draped everywhere. I shook my head in amusement when she strapped a gun underneath the table, finding a grim amusement in the action because we both know it would do no damage to the Hulk should he make an appearance. I took note of all the exits and the general layout of the run down home, planning the best escape route should things turn ugly - I grab Romanoff and get the bloody hell out of here, whichever way seemed less likely to result in death or dismemberment.
It was not long before the girl appeared, running through the doorway with a man in a brown suit close behind that sighed in exasperation as the little girl climbed through the window without hesitation. He mumbled something about payment and turned cautiously when Natasha revealed herself.
"You know, for a man who's supposed to be avoiding stress you picked a hell of a place to settle"
"Avoiding stress isn't the secret." Bruce replied warily, eyeing Natasha and I cautiously as he turned to face us.
"Then what is? Yoga?" Natasha quipped, which made me stifle a snort of amusement.
"You brought me to the edge of the city. Smart. I assume the whole place is surrounded." Bruce said as he looked around the shack with a self deprecating smile.
"It's just you, me, and him." Natasha lied, both of us maintaining a straight face under his scrutiny.
"And who are you?" Bruce asked as he glanced between us
"Auggie." I introduced myself, lifting two fingers lazily.
"Natasha Romanoff." Natasha said simply, her eyes never leaving Bruce's.
"Are you here to kill me?" Bruce asked "Because I have to tell you, that won't work out for anyone."
"No, of course not." Natasha told him "I'm here on behalf of SHIELD."
"SHIELD. How did they find me?"
"We never lost you, Doctor. We've kept our distance. Even helped keep some other interested parties off your scent." Natasha informed him
"Why?" Bruce asked warily
"Nick Fury seems to trust you. But now we need you to come in." Natasha replied
"What if I say no?" Bruce questioned
"I'll persuade you." Natasha responded softly and in a confident tone of voice. It made me wonder if she truly felt that confident or was that great of an actress.
"What if the other guy says no?" The silence that followed Bruce's question was enough to hear a pin drop.
"You've been more than a year without an incident. I don't think you want to break that streak." Natasha said lightly, slowly removing a phone from her pocket.
"I don't always get what I want." Bruce told us, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose before once again placing them on his face.
"I do not believe any of us do." I said quietly, ignoring the puzzled look Bruce gave me.
"Doctor, we are facing a potential global catastrophe." Natasha said, scrolling through her phone as she spoke.
Bruce bitterly laughed, a wry smile on his lips. "Well those I actively try to avoid."
"This is the Tesseract." Natasha declared as she put the phone on the table, a picture of a blue cube on the screen. "It has the potential energy to wipe out the planet."
"What does Fury want me to do?" asked Bruce as he picked up the phone, an incredulous look on his face as he examined it. "Swallow it?"
"He wants you to find it. It's been taken. It emits a gamma signature that's too weak for us to trace. There's no one that knows gamma radiation like you do." Natasha explained "If there was, that's where I'd be."
"So, Fury isn't after the monster?" Bruce seemed disbelieving that someone wanted his mind and not the Hulk - something told me his suspicions were legitimate concerns.
"Not that he's told me." Natasha said simply
"Fury tells you everything?"
"Talk to Fury." Natasha said "He needs you on this."
By this point Natasha was sitting down, Bruce across from her, and I was leaning against the wall behind Natasha casually. This was going quite a bit better than I imagined it would. IT was quiet in the room and I realized Bruce was looking at me expectantly.
"I am new - I got brought in just like you except they bribed me." I told him, ignoring the reprimanding look Natasha directed to me. I ignored it because I was not ordered to lie to the guy. Bruce seemed to accept my answer but my loose tongue bit me in the arse again because my next bitter statement was quiet, but loud enough for the other occupants of the small shack to hear clearly. "Besides, I am monster enough on my own."
Bruce gave me a curious look but aimed the next statement at Natasha. "He wants me in a cage."
"No one wants-" Natasha protested gently but was quickly interrupted.
"STOP LYING TO ME!" Bruce shouted
Natasha moved very quickly, even in my book, and had the gun she had strapped to the table aimed at Bruce within a heartbeat. I could practically taste the fear and adrenaline in the air as Natasha aimed the gun with steady hands at Bruce, who for his part was looking a tad bit guilty. I did not move from my position from the wall, although I was tensed in preparation to pull Romanoff out if it became necessary.
"I'm sorry. That was mean. I just wanted to see what you'd do. Why don't we do this the easy way where you don't use that and the other guy doesn't make a mess." Bruce spoke as though he were talking to an injured animal who was backed into a corner, entreating with the red haired woman across from him gently with his hands raised. "Okay? Natasha?"
She eyed him for a long moment but I relaxed my posture because it seemed as though he had control over himself. Finally she lowered the gun and pressed a hand to her ear, confirming that everything was fine and ordering the SHIELD agents outside to stand down.
"Just you two and me." Bruce said wryly, glancing at us both. I shrugged and Natasha just sat in silence as we waited to see what Bruce would do. The man looked back down at the phone and sighed, a weary one as if the whole world rested on his shoulders, before speaking. "Alright. I'll come with you. Only to find the Tesseract."
"Excellent." Natasha said, standing up gracefully and communicating with the other agents that everything was fine. The pilot was ordered to have the jet ready to go in the next five minutes and I smiled at Bruce as he stood.
"Your name is Auggie, you said?" Bruce asked as we stepped out of the shack and watched the agents around us bustling to move equipment. I caught the grimace on his face at the sight of the heavy artillery being taken apart and I felt a flash of sympathy for him.
"Doctor August Harker, actually, but I go by Auggie." I offered, extending my hand for him to shake. "I admire the work you have done on anti electron collisions"
"Thank you." Bruce replied, his eyes lighting up in recognition and seemingly no longer paying attention to the men around us. "I've read about the work you did with Pluripotent Stem Cells as well, of course."
"Ah, yes, well. I have been teaching as of late." I said as I guided him down the path to the clearing where the jets were parked.
"What do they want with a Biochemist, exactly?" Bruce probed
"They did not request me for my mind, I am sure." I told him dryly, walking up the ramp to enter the jet. "I believe I am here in case of a fight."
"Really?" Bruce asked skeptically as he took in my short stature and androgynous features without any judgement on his face. "Are you a soldier?"
"I have been a lot of things, Dr. Banner." I answered without divulging any details.
"Dr. Harker has been around for a long time, Dr. Banner." Natasha informed him as she walked into the jet and the ramp raised up behind her.
"What does that mean?" Bruce asked as he looked between us with confusion written all over his face.
"Thank you, Agent Romanoff." I grumbled before answering the question. "What she means is that my real name is August Thaddeus Murray and I was born on the fourth day of February in 1870."
It was enough to shock them both into silence as they both looked me over once, doubt written all over their faces. It was a bold claim, I knew, because what proof was there that it was true? I honestly did not care if they believed it or not.
"That's impossible." Bruce breathed out finally as the jet took off. "You could barely pass for 30."
I shrugged, not willing to go into the details of how. "And yet, here I stand."
"We have records of him from 1940." Natasha spoke up, confirming that I was most likely telling the truth. "Records that show he looks exactly as he does now, not having aged a day since."
"Amazing." Bruce said, instantly going into doctor mode and leaning forward in his seat. "Do you know why it happened? Have there been any subs-"
"Yes, I know why and no you may not ask." I responded sharply, the anger rising as the possibility of being treated like a lab rat came to the , causing him to lean back once again.
"Oh I- yes, sorry. Forgive me, it's not every day that you meet…" Bruce apologized, trailing off when he had nothing to call me.
"You meant no affront." I sighed, deflating and allowing the anger to recede. I needed to feed, it had been awhile and I was still not satisfied by the stuff from bags since my slip with Austin. After having the fresh stuff, straight from a vein, it was the same as I imagined it would be to go from eating at a five star restaurant to digging through dumpsters for dinner. "You touched upon a nerve and it harrowed up memories best left forgotten. It raised my ideas and I apologize for taking it out on you."
"Well, that was very British." Bruce commented lightly, making me reevaluate what I said and causing me to laugh lightly when I realized that it was the way I would have spoken in the 19th century.
The rest of the ride was spent in relative silence, both Bruce and I now reading about the Tesseract. The destination was unknown, Natasha only saying it was the current base of operations Fury was operating out of and that we would know more when we arrived. Patience is something I have an absurd amount of, so I settled in and became familiar with the files provided by Natasha so I might be as informed as possible upon arrival.
A/N: Alright, Chapter Four! First of all, thank you so much BloodyAvenger! Auggie, comes from August, which comes from Augustus in Roman times. JinxRose: Thank you for the lovely review! I will absolutely keep writing :) I hope you continue to enjoy the story and continue to let me know your thoughts on it as well.
Playlist: Song - Artist - Scene
I'm So Sick - Flyleaf (T-Virus Remix feat legion of doom) - getting badges with Peggy in the first flashback.
Darlin - Avril Lavigne - Conversation with Camilla, after getting off phone.
Leap of Faith - Volunteer - Bruce agreeing to come in.