Chapter 2
Planning and Introductions
Tap tap tap. That was the sound of Toni's nails as they hit her desk in thought as she stared at the chair Fury had vacated about ten minutes ago. He had gone to an inn in the closest town for the night and would be flying back to the States in the morning. Their conversation had been productive, somewhat. He had agreed to tell the Avengers but she had a sneaky suspicion he would do it only halfway, probably by using the wrong name. If that was the case, she better be prepared to hide her own identity which meant disguises for her and Rhodey and possibly Tim. Or, if she could, put him in a situation where he had no choice but to tell them.
She'd worry about that when she got to the lab later. Now, she had to break the news to the rest of her colleagues.
That caused a gulp, knowing how the conversation would go down. Rhodey, his wife Lauren, and Toni's closest girlfriend and the other searcher here Taylor, would probably be understanding and sympathetic. Mickey would be pissed, yet still rational. Tim was the problem.
Timothy Chase Lunar. Toni had known him for about five or six years now. He was cocky, annoying, an on purpose idiot, yet a good friend. He wanted more though and that was the problem. After she left the States and Steve she had sworn off all romance, even physical relationships although that had to do with the fact she had been raped and had gotten pregnant from said rape. While Tim knew that, he did his best to prove her wrong on the fact relationships were not meant for her. He brought her flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and even clothes. He used all the stuff he could find in cheesy movies that made her sick with all the sweetness. When he found out about her going to help the Avengers, even with Loki involved, he would be pissed. His brain would automatically assume she was doing it for Steve, which she wasn't, she thinks.
Yeah, Tim was complicated and she had to play her cards very carefully. She couldn't lose him as a friend and their business relationship couldn't be strained for either of them to do their jobs.
It made her head ache. When had her life become so complicated? Did it start with the Loki mess or her joining the Avengers? Or did it go back as far as Afghanistan?
Toni groaned. "I really need a vacation." Like she could get one! She ran a sanctuary for people with supernatural powers. She was the Ambassador amongst all dimensions. She was head of the Council of the Nine Realms and a highly decorated member of Odin's council. On top of all that she was a parent. She had an alternate ego, far more important and recognized than the title Iron Maiden.
That mess had started when she left the US; that was recognizable. Fury had insisted she stopped being publically known as Toni Stark so if Loki returned no one would know where she was. If? Loki was a miserable, conniving son of a bitch who had ruined her life. He had already returned to take over the world after failing once. He was stubborn and was like a child. Pretty, shiny, give me! That's how he was. He was going to return, the only question was when.
So Fury had given a shitty excuse to attempt to cover up that he was trying to protect his own ass. He knew if Steve, the Avengers, or the public found out that he had known she had been hit with the third mind staff and he had let her take the fall for something that wasn't her own fault he would have lost everything. The board had been clear after New York; Fury would have lost his job if another member was lost to mind control. If they had found out about Toni being locked in her own head for six months because of the third mind staff, they would have had his ass. Fury sold her out to protect himself and lied to almost everyone about it.
He was still lying, or trying to not knowing she knew he was. Loki only had one of the mind staffs, the most powerful one, but only one. Fury had attempted to make her believe he had the fourth and fifth when he only had the fifth.
The mind staffs were five staffs, each made of a different material. The lowest of power was the first one, the Stone Staff. The second was the Iron Staff. The third, the one she had been under, was the Bronze Staff. The fourth, the one Fury lied about, was the Silver Staff. The one Loki had was the fifth and final one known as the Gold Staff. They caused mind control, technically. If you were hit by the blast, and the staff that hit you was activated correctly, you would be under their control. The power would lock you in the back of your own head where you could see and hear what was going on but not be able to control your own body. The levels of power only stated the strongest of control. The Bronze Staff allowed her to gain a little control if she put her entire energy behind it. The Stone Staff allowed the one under control to fight and gain long bursts of control. The Gold Staff had you under complete control with no attempt of fighting back. That was the one Loki had.
When she had gotten her powers she had been able to gain the location of every mind staff. The Iron and Stone Staff were already in the Asguardian Vault. She put the Bronze Staff in there when she had been pregnant with the twins. She had gone on a mission for Odin and the other councilmen and had found the Silver Staff and put it in there. That was the one Fury lied about. Loki only had the Gold Staff.
Did Fury honestly not know? Or did he know, and was trying to force her to come by lying about the severity? It wasn't that he was lying. The Gold Staff was the most powerful and the most dangerous. She would have come back anyway to stop it and execute Loki, so why did he lie?
She would figure it out later, now she had to go to the lab and open her hidden project, a project only she, Rhodey, Erik, and Piper Roberts knew of. Even Tim had no idea it existed and he knew almost everything. Quickly she shut down her computer, put all of her files away, and left her office. She headed out of the main building and down the walkway smiling and greeting people that she passed.
The labs were in simple gray building about a five minute walk from her office. It was pretty big, considering it held her personal lab, Piper's lab, Erik's lab, and the other science classes of the place and no, she did not run a school, technically.
She ran the SFTG, also known as The Sanctuary For The Gifted. It was a learning facility and safe haven for people with supernatural abilities that she had started up about nine years ago, when the twins were seven. Most of the members were teenagers, Piper herself only being fourteen. Most of them were also siblings, something about sharing genes and superpowers being related. If one sibling or two had an ability, the other kid was almost guaranteed to get one.
On the way down to her lab she passed Piper, one of her favorite kids. She had the gift of knowledge, a natural genius like Toni herself. The only difference was, whenever Piper needed information, she would have it pop into her head. Her full name was Piper Kayla Roberts. Her older sister was Paisley Alison Roberts who was sixteen. She had the gift of pschometry; she knew the past of every object she touched. She could also witness events by touching an object that had been in the room when the event happened.
Piper was in her lab, having just packed up her latest project. Her normal white lab coat was off, revealing a light blue top with a little bit of white in it, light blue jeans, and mid-calf white boots that had a slight heel. Her dark brown, almost black hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail that had a thick braid running through it on the left side. Her makeup was light, only a light pink color on her lips and natural pink color around her blue green eyes. She was the exact opposite of her sister. Piper was the bookworm, the brainiac. Paisley was bright, energetic, and could talk a mile a minute while Pipe was soft spoken and quiet. Paisley looked different to with wavy golden hair and bright green eyes. The only way you could tell they were related was their facial shape, nose and lips. Piper apparently looked and acted more like their father while Paisley was the spitting image of their mother, not that Toni knew either of their parents. Most of the kids here were orphans or runaways who had left either because they had no choice or it was easier if they left. Piper and Paisley had lost the parents in a boating accident when they were nine and seven. They had come here a few years later when they were twelve and ten. That was four years ago.
She passed by Erik's office next. He had been working with SHIELD and had been one of the only people to know that she had been under the Bronze Staff's power. When she set up the facility, she reached out and offered him a place. He had accepted and now worked in the lab and taught some of the kids basic science and mythology considering he was still in contact with Thor. Today he wore a white and blue plaid button down, a bright red tie, dark navy trousers, dark blue shoes, a black leather belt, a silver watch with a navy blue face, and his reading glasses adorning his face. His hair was a mess from him running his hands through it but he still didn't look fifty, much less to be in his early seventies. He was buried deep in an experiment.
Yeah, immortality was the new thing apparently. She had met a bothersome witch over fifteen years ago that had decided to help her out and make everyone she loved and could immortal. The Avengers, Coulson, the staff here, Erik, the spouses of the Avengers, Pepper and Happy, Rhodey, even Fury and Agent Hill. She also granted the kids here to be immortal as a sixteenth birthday gift. Almost all of them accepted, though some did wait till they were eighteen.
She continued on to her lab and walked into the familiar room with a sigh of nostalgia. She had been so busy recently; she only was in here about half the time she used to be before Loki had ruined her life. She couldn't be in here as often. On top of running the SFTG, she was a mother of sixteen year old twins, the mother figure for twenty-five other kids, an advisor to Odin, king of Asguard, a consultant to Captain Fernald the leader of Asguard's army, the leader of the Council of the Nine Realms, executioner of those who threatened the safety of realms and dimensions alike, and the retriever of mystical items. She had no time what so ever to do an inventing binge like she used to.
Shaking her head, Toni moved to the computer and pulled up the files she was looking for. Unlike Fury, Toni knew that Loki would return and with a vengeance. For the past seventeen years she had been creating the antidote for the mind staffs, and blockages for the powers of the staffs and any other magical item Loki had. She had done it all. In her free time, she had done something she had not known if she would ever be able to make. She had created suits and coatings for weapons and other trinkets for the Avengers that could reflect magic. It was her number one secret, one she had done in an attempt to bring back to good old days whenever the pain of missing her old life got too much to bear. When she designed the uniforms and weapon upgrades, she could almost believe she was back in New York in her labs, that if she could turn to her right she would see Bruce beside her or behind and see Steve sketching her. Either that or she could see Clint wondering about new arrows or the plans for Bucky's arm. She could almost feel Pierto running around the lab, trying to see if he could grab one of her tools and shoot off, her only knowing when he would laugh in amusement and delight when he succeeded. She could hear Wanda and Natasha berating him before having Thor come down, rejoicing that he had taken it back and able to restore it to her, unharmed. She could see Coulson roll his eyes at the antics and Fury yell and huff at them while Maria just looked bored. She could see Jane and Darcy attempt to teach Thor about Midguard and all of their customs. She could see Steve attempting to coerce her out of the lab before finally picking her up and over his shoulder with her screaming at him to put her down. She could see Vision looking at her weirdly as Steve took her through the living room. She could almost feel Steve chuckling as he set her down in her bedroom and held her to keep her from running straight down to the lab. She could feel his lips on hers as he distracted her enough to get her to go to the bed. She could hear his heartbeat as she laid down on his chest and buried her face in his neck. She could feel every touch, hear every sound, see everything in her bedroom, she could smell his shampoo, and she could almost taste the slight saltiness of his skin. She could…
She was sobbing she realized. She was in her lab, on the floor in front of her workshop table, the Captain America design up on her computer. She was crouched on the floor sobbing as memories of the days of her life as an Avenger hit her in waves. She then was lost in the memories of the blast, of when she came down to the lab to find Loki waiting for her, of the days and nights that she spent locked in her head begging for someone to realize it wasn't her in control of her own body. She was transported to the cell back in SHIELD's headquarters as Loki raped her in front of her best friend. She was back in that small hotel room in London as she found out her pregnancy test was positive and knew that only that monster could be the father. She could feel the pain as she realized she was going to die not meeting her children since no human could survive a pregnancy with the father being Asguardian, or whatever Loki was with her case.
She had survived. Odin had demanded she be brought to Asguard where she was given top medical help and given supernatural powers that not only caused her to live but also made her one of the most powerful beings to currently exist. That was when she became Layla Claire Grey.
She wiped at her eyes, forcing the tears to stop as she magically fixed her makeup and got up, staring at the screen. Her fingers reached put and traced the holographic image of the suit, mainly the bright star. A sad smile crossed her face as she touched it. "Do you miss me love? Pepper hasn't told me in any of her letters, neither has Happy or Fury though I doubt he would, the bastard. I know, I shouldn't curse but too bad. So much has happened; I wanted to call so many times. Everything that happened, all I wanted to do was pick up the phone, but I knew better. Fury hasn't told you anything. It doesn't matter. He will or at least give you enough for you to not want to strangle me next time you see me. And you will see me soon. I just have a few more things to do before I'm coming back and ending this nightmare. I'll be at peace when I leave you again. Will you?" with a heavy heart she shrunk the image and sent it to the processer so she could have the uniforms and weapons made and ready for when she left for New York.
By the time she was done and everything was ready, it was late. The sky was dark, deep blue and black showing twinkling stars overhead that she could see through the clear air. She headed out the door of the lab and down the path way to the road at the end that headed down to where the houses were. Hers was in the back, a modest house compared to what she normally had before all this mess with Loki. It was two stories not including the basement and attic. It had five bedrooms, a kitchen, the master bedroom and bathroom, one half bath, one laundry room, one dining room, one office, four bathrooms, one living room, and personal garage. She had turned two of the bedrooms into a small lab and conference room. The basement had a home theatre, a game room, a mini kitchen, a home gym, and a music room. The garage was where she had her favorite car, her motorcycle, her daughter's car, her son's car, and both of their motorcycles. All three had their bikes there as well. Everyone else besides Rhodey and Lauren, Tim, Mickey, and Taylor had their cars in the facility's garage. Toni herself had a red mustang convertible with a slick red Ducati motorcycle and red bike with gold and black highlights. Her daughter had a bike, motorcycle, and car in the same pretty light turquoise while her sons were a shiny black.
She ran her hand over the glossy paint of her hood before heading in through the door and stepping into the house and landing in her kitchen. Her brown eyes barely paid attention to the stainless steel appliances or the soft leather couches in the living room. She immediately made her way up the steps to her bedroom where she sat her bag on the bed before leaving and heading down the hall. She reached her son's room first and stepped in quietly to brush her hand through his dark brown hair and pressing a kiss on his forehead. Smiling silently when he nuzzled her hand she whispered goodnight and left.
Her daughter was awake. Liz was sitting on her bed, legs crossed underneath her as she typed furiously at her turquoise laptop. Her brown hair was pulled into a messy side ponytail that hung over her shoulder. She was dressed in a white t-shirt with Mickey Mouse on it, with matching black shorts that also had multiple copies of the cartoon mouse and black furry slippers.
"Shouldn't you be asleep?" she questioned quietly, smiling at the fact her daughter didn't jump which meant she knew she was there and her supernatural abilities, courtesy of her sperm donor, were working.
A chuckle left her oldest child's lips. "Probably, however Aunt Taylor has given me an essay for extra credit on the Roman Empire. It has to be from beginning to end and at least five pages. I'm at fifteen as we speak."
Toni's eyes slightly widened. "Only fifteen. Knowing you as I do, you've been working for hours."
"Four hours, mom. I started as soon as we got back from dinner. At least I'm working and actually researching. All Alex did was teleport back in time and watch a gladiator fight and wrote a five and a half page paper on the every detail of it. I told him not to by the way, especially after he went back that one time and saw some guy get decapitated." The sixteen year old smirked at the fact that she was tattling on her younger twin.
The inventor sighed in exasperation. She felt bad for her mother and Jarvis as she knew she was about as bad when she was young. The only difference is she didn't have powers then, unless you counted her brain. Her daughter could create illusions so palpable that she could make you believe there was blizzard in the Bahamas in July. Her son could teleport to any place, whether it be on earth or Asguard, or even another dimension or time. He had a love of fighting and gladiator fighting was his favorite. He used any excuse to be able to go watch one. The incident Liz mentioned was their sixteenth birthday when he travelled, not to the Coliseum, but to Pennsylvania and watched Gettysburg take place. He watched some soldier get shot in the head and had said head blown off by said bullet. After that, Toni had told him that if he were to travel back, he had to have her or Rhodey's permission and one of them or Mickey or Taylor had to go with him. To hear that not only had he not told her, but he went without a chaperone gave her a headache of mass proportions. Not that she didn't already have one, with the Cyclops' visit and hearing of Loki's return and possession of the Gold Staff and all.
Elizabeth sensed her frustration and exhaustion that went deeper than her hearing that her annoying younger twin brother had broken the rules again. "Something wrong?"
Toni caught her eyes and Liz could see how tired and scared she was, something she didn't show often, normally only to Rhodey, Siff, Frigga, Lauren, Taylor, Mickey, and sometimes Tim. Something had happened, and it was going to change everything.
Her mother sighed. "Nothing you need to worry about tonight. I'll tell you and Alex in the morning. I'll be telling the others in a meeting tomorrow before releasing the info. Just sleep." She walked forward and brushed the hair back, that had come loose from the hairband, from Liz' face.
Slowly, the teen shut her laptop and sat it on her nightstand before laying down. "Mom, can you sing that lullaby you used to sing when Alex and I were little, the one about the stars?"
Toni's eyes softened as she let the words come out.
Constant as the stars above
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in you
Will help you make your dreams come true
Will help your dreams come true
The lamb lies down and rests it head
On it's mother's downy bed
Dolphin plays in the moonlight's glow
And butterfly dreams of a violet rose
Dreams of a violet rose
I'll cradle you in my arms tonight
As sun embraces the moonlight
The clouds will carry us off tonight
Our dreams will run deep like the sea
Our dreams will run deep like the sea
Constant as the stars above
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in you
Will help you make your dreams come true
Will help your dreams come true
Liz was asleep by the time she was done singing. Smiling softly, she repeated the action she did with her son and kissed her forehead before leaving the room and heading to her own bedroom. She changed quickly into her own sleepwear, a white tank top with Mickey and Minnie Mouse kissing and long red pants with the same image. She let her dark hair down from its half up, half down style and took off her makeup. Feeling as clean as she could be without a shower, she climbed under the dark red comforter as drifted off to sleep.
Here's chapter 2. To apologize for the wait, I went ahead and wrote chapter so you will be getting both of them today.
The outfits for this, along with the first chapter are on Polyvore. I have a link on my profile, but if you can't find it, I'm under the same username.
The song was "Constant As The Stars Above" from Barbie's
"Rapunzel". I know, why is a teenager still watching Barbie? I haven't watched the movie in at least five years but I do have the song downloaded and I love it.
See you in chapter 3,
mitkit99