CHAPTER 18
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except my own. The characters belong to MARVEL.
CHAPTER 18 News
"How do you like it?"
Natasha turned around herself, looking up and around the room. "I really like it."
"May I guide you through the rooms?" the agent asked politely. He was young and visibly awed by having both Pepper Pott's, CEO of Stark Industries and fiancée of Tony Stark, as well as Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, in one of his houses. "We have one guest bathroom down here, as well as a large kitchen, sitting room and several bedrooms. On the upper floors –"
Natasha allowed the chatter to fade slightly into the background. Her eyes flitted around the rooms, taking in the floors and ceilings, possible corners to turn into hiding spots for any young one needing the time to themselves.
The house turned out surprisingly light for something so close to the centre of New York. Higher ceilings in the entrance area and wide steps leading up to the first floor. They had already looked at every room on the first and second floor. Each a comfortable size for a children's or teenager's bedroom. Or a pair of them. Enough bathrooms for each floor. There are enough rooms for at least, Natasha quickly did some mental math, about a hundred kids.
That wasn't nearly enough to help all the new orphans, but it was a start. Better than nothing and at least a few kids could find a new home. Pepper's gaze told Natasha she thought the same. They politely said their goodbyes to the agent and ducked into the car.
"What do you think?"
Natasha leaned her head against the head rest. "The house is very open and bright for something so close to the city. But I'm not sure it's quite big enough." She looked over at Pepper. "There are a lot of children out there."
"That there are." Pepper nodded. "But no one expects you to take all of them in. Any contribution is probably appreciated." She looked over the data on her tablet once more. "I could arrange for other house tours? Maybe another house might meet our expectations or we could buy several. Have you considered how to staff your orphanage yet?"
"There are enough people out of a job. I sent my feelers out to the city and found a handful of possible future employees." Natasha fished a list out of her pocket. Without taking her eyes off the tablet in her friend's lap, she handed Pepper a slip of paper. "I'm sure you can find out who might be most suited among them."
Pepper unfolded the paper. "I'll see what I can do," she grinned.
And with that, they both leaned back in their seats, going over what they had seen of the house and needed to arrange going down the line. I'll see what Hayden has to say to the house. He is after all part of the reason why I got the idea in the first place.
The car pulled up in front of the compound. Happy followed Pepper and Natasha into the house, where they said their goodbyes. Pepper disappeared towards Tony's workshop. Happy trailed in the direction of the kitchen. Probably to fix a snack while watching Downton Abbey. Again. If I had to guess, he's going to put on the wedding episode of Rose and Atticus. Romance and drama.
Natasha turned towards the gym. Hayden and Steve should be training at this time of day. At least, if they follow their routine. She followed the by now well-trodden path down. Training was overall a good guess to find any of them these days whenever they were not busy planning or tinkering to find Thanos.
"Natasha?" Rhodey called from down the hall. "Do you have a moment?"
"I just wanted to check in on Hayden. Is he training with Steve?"
"Yeah, I think so," Rhodey came closer. "If you could come meet me later, I have some news about Clint."
Her world froze. News. News from Clint. Has he finally allowed us to track him down and get him back here? Her hands balled into fists. I need to get this news. Her eyes darted down the hallway towards the gym. But I do need to check in on Hayden with the progress of the orphanage. She set her shoulders. "I'll see you in five."
Rhodey nodded once, earnestly, then turned on his heel.
News from Clint. Her head swirled with the thought of it. She only snapped out of her auto pilot when she heard Steve patiently explain a set of moves.
"Good," Steve praised. "Keep that up and you'll get the grip on the other manoeuvre easily."
"Don't listen to him," Natasha said, "He's more the type to improvise than establish exact routines and manoeuvres." She cocked her hip, arms crossed over her chest. "If you want to, I can teach you the advanced manoeuvres."
"Can Steve help?" Hayden looked between them with glowing eyes.
Natasha shrugged, trying to hide the smirk. "Sure. We do need someone to throw on the ground for some of them," she allowed the smirk, raising an eyebrow, "Think you're up for that, old man?"
Steve rolled his eyes with a smile of his own. "Sure, I'd like to." He ruffled Hayden's hair. "I'm curious to see if you can even get me on the ground."
"Hah, I bet I can," Hayden challenged. "Especially with Natasha's help." He turned to look at her, eyes gleaming. She offered a smile in return. Just as much a challenge to Steve.
Sensing their combined energy, Steve lifted his hands in defeat. "Alright. We'll see how it goes. For now, I'll head up and see if I can find something to eat."
"Happy should be in the kitchen. I'm sure he'll give you something of whatever he made."
A thankful hum later there were only Hayden and Natasha left. She looked the teen over. He already developed some muscle. His posture is better as well. Natasha blinked as she shook off her thoughts. That's not why I came here. I can spar with him later.
"Uh, you wanted to talk to me?" Hayden tilted his head.
"Pepper took me to look at a house for the orphanage. I looked really good, but you'd have to see, if it meets your expectations."
Hayden stared at her, mouth slightly ajar. Not a tone left his lips. A slight trembling started at his hands. His eyes began shimmering. And before Natasha could begin to try and calm him down, Hayden lunged at her. His arms encircled her in a tight hug.
"Thank you," he mumbled into her shoulder. "I'd love to see pictures of the house."
"Pepper should be with Tony right now, if you want to."
Hayden stepped back. "Won't you come with me?"
"Rhodey said they have news on Clint."
The teen's eyes widened once more. Understanding settled on his face. "Then what are you waiting for? I can find my way to the workshop." Hayden made a shooing motion with his hands. "Thank you for coming to tell me. I'm really looking forward to our next sparring session."
Natasha laughed good-naturedly. "And since when do you give the orders around here?"
"Just this once."
She hummed. Feigned contemplating his answer. "Well," she said after a moment, "lead the way then."
"My family disappeared. I'm going to avenge them. Don't try to find me. I'm sorry." Natasha turned the note over and over in her hands. "And you're sure, it's him?"
Rhodey, standing across from her, nodded solemnly. "Everything points to him. The victims are always members of the underground. Eye witnesses described a dark shadow dropping from high places before they attacked."
"How does he do it?"
"With a blade. Possibly a katana. No one reported seeing any arrows on the Ronin."
Natasha worked her jaw. Ronin. A samurai without a master, wandering the lands. A warrior without honour. This is not good. She took a steadying breath as she looked down at the note once more. "Where has he been seen?"
"Mostly in Europe and Asia for now. He travels fast and under the radar," Rhodey said. "He knows how to hide from us. It's surprising we even found any trace of him. As old and unreliable as some of the sources are."
Natasha put the note back into her pocket. "You're right. Clint knows how to be innocuous. We have Tony back, Banner's with Rocket and Nebula working on how to locate Thanos," she paused, "I think it's time, I make some of my own investigations."
Rhodey turned to her as she pushed to her feet. "What about the kid and your plans here?"
"I'm sure, he and Pepper can work something out. Maybe I can convince Steve to stay and help."
"How long do you think?"
Natasha blinked. Rhodey was not even trying to keep her from going after Clint. Just as Hayden had immediately sent her here upon hearing there were news from her best friend. Why are they doing this? She narrowed her eyes at the other.
He raised his brows.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you letting me go willingly to hunt for someone who does not wish to be found?"
Understanding bloomed in Rhodey's eyes. "'Cause I would do the same. Have done the same. I never stopped searching for Tony when he was kidnapped. Would have spent my whole time on it, hadn't someone else dictated that I wouldn't." He clasped a hand on her shoulder. "Go get him. We could need a bird's perspective on this whole thing."
"Thank you." Natasha turned on her heel. "I'll need a week at most to prepare."
Rhodey nodded his understanding and returned to the screen in front of him. Fingers clacking on the keyboard. A snippet Tony had installed just for their "retro tastes". Natasha smiled to herself. Let's get this over with.
"Agent Romanoff, someone is at the door," FRIDAY announced just as Natasha reached the hallway towards Tony's lab.
"Who is it?"
A screen slid from the wall. The live video-feed showed someone standing in front of the closed gates. It was no one that had visited them before or FRIDAY would not have bothered to get authorization. Natasha furrowed her brows. A stout Asian waited patiently at the gate. His gaze was steadily following the angle of the camera, then wandered towards the still closed gate.
Natasha's frown deepened. What is he wearing? That's not traditional but not entirely western either? She noted the book bag loosely held at his side. "Who is it?"
The man startled as her voice crackled to life over the speakers. He looked back at the camera. "Name's Wong. I'm the current, well, guardian of the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York," his eyes narrowed, "I have information regarding plans in the fight against Thanos."
Natasha froze. Plans against Thanos? What?
"Are – Are you still there?"
"Yes, I'm sorry." She glanced up at the ceiling although that was technically not where FRIDAY was located. "FRIDAY, let him in. Alert the others." Without waiting for the dutiful response of the AI, Natasha turned and strode towards the lobby.
"Mister Stark and the others will assemble in the strategy room."
"Thank you, FRIDAY."
The man already stood in the lobby entrance when Natasha turned the corner. She lifted her head, straightened her shoulders. "Welcome to the Avengers Compound. I assume, you know, who I am?"
"Yes."
Not one for unnecessary words then. Well, Natasha could work with that. She gave a curt nod. "Follow me. The others are waiting for us."
Indeed, the rest stood around the display of their data on Thanos and his tactics or possible leads. Steve crossed his arms when he saw Natasha and the other man enter.
Tony tilted his head, eyebrows shooting into his hairline. "Wong? What are you doing here?"
"I crashed through Doctor Strange and his roof," Bruce said as if that explained anything further. "They fought with us, but Wong remained behind when Doctor Strange followed Tony into space."
"And he visited me not too long ago," Wong cut right to the point.
Another beat of silence. "That can't be," Nebula replied. "He was dusted."
Natasha resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. I have a feeling this is going to take a longer explanation. She caught Steve shifting so his arms were crossed behind his back, shoulders straight in an almost military stance. "How about you start from the beginning. I'm afraid otherwise most of us will be quite lost."
And thus, Wong began with the moment he felt something shift in the Sanctorum. How he had found both Doctor Strange and Loki standing in the entrance hall. Both of them ever so slightly transparent. Doctor Strange had followed him around and asked for the help of the other wizards scattered around the world in case they were able to draw Thanos out of hiding. And how Loki, of all people, had redecorated and restored anything broken in the entrance hall before whisking Doctor Strange away to wherever they dwelled in the meantime.
After his tale ended, they all stood around in silence for a moment. Steve was the first to unfreeze. He ran a hand through his hair. "We should inform Thor that his brother has been sighted and might be restored to life just as the other Dusted." His eyes drifted to somewhere beyond the room and Natasha could almost tell the moment he found the image of Bucky. Found what he would sacrifice to get his best friend back.
"I'll see to it," Nebula said and disappeared into the back of the room towards the communicators.
"What else do you have to tell us?" Tony asked. "You didn't just come here to tell us you got a visit, didn't you?"
Wong shook his head. "He asked me to convey a message. Something they apparently worked on wherever they currently are."
"Just spill it," Rocket rolled his eyes, arms crossed.
If a talking racoon seemed strange to the wizard, Wong did not let it show on his face. He just met Rocket's stare with cool amusement. "They are working on combining magic with weaponry such as guns or rifles. Apparently, energy blasts from magicks such as Wanda Maximoff's or Loki's have proven very useful." He met their eyes in turn. "Unfortunately, you do not have access to something like that. My magic works differently, but we might be able to work something out," Wong rubbed at his forehead. The first sign of discomfort he had shown since arriving. "At least Stephen thought it possible."
Natasha didn't have to look towards Tony, Bruce, Rhodey or Rocket to know they were already running ideas through their heads of possible scenarios where it might work.
"I'll contact Okoye," Rhodey finally said, turning to join Nebula.
Wakanda does have a better grasp on science and a closer connection to magic than any of us. Their insight is essential to our success. Let's hope Okoye can sniff out someone with an idea for what to do since both of the royal siblings disappeared…
"Would you mind explaining the trappings of your," Tony wriggled his fingers. He turned and pulled up a visual display for them to manipulate and write into.
Rocket and Bruce moved around to the other side, making room for Wong. The wizard stepped up, already explaining away and carefully typing out a few important notes and foreign words to describe the needed concepts.
Steve and Natasha's gazes met across the room. One corner occupied by holograms of Okoye in her armour, Thor in sweatpants and a messy braid as well as Carol swaying in space. In the middle, the rest of them huddled around the visual display of what developed into a chart about the powers behind Wong's type of magic.
"Uh," Steve scratched the back of his head, "I'll go get us some snacks and see where Pepper, Happy and Hayden have disappeared to."
Natasha merely nodded back at him, keeping an ear on the discussion of the weapons and magic. Apparently, they need artifacts to work their magic in contrast to Wanda. She has some innate thing that allow her to work her magic. Maybe it'due to her exposure to the infinity stones? Natasha stepped closer.
"Do you have something on your artifacts? An analysis of their components or something?" Tony cradled his chin in his hand. "It might help us decode the secret behind them."
"No, why would we ever do that. The artifacts are sacred. Ancient."
"To replicate them," Rocket chimed in as if it was the most obvious conclusion to come to. "To better use them, I don't know. There are a hundred good reasons."
Natasha watched the presented Sling Ring on Wong's outstretched hand. Then she looked at the sketch Tony had thrown into the air from a scan of Wong's ring. "Do you know who crafts them? I suppose they are each fitted for their respective owners."
"No, not outfitted for their wearer exactly, but," Wong lowered his eyes and that was all the answer they needed really.
Another one taken by the Snap, Natasha pursed her lips. He couldn't have taken any better, really. One might almost think he knowingly chose who would survive. If that weren't utterly ridiculous considering how many living beings there are.
"I suppose, we'll have to work it out ourselves then," Bruce hummed. He pushed his glasses higher. "Should we start with an x-ray just in case it reveals anything? We can then move on to the optical emission spectroscopy or chromatography."
"Well then," Natasha took a deep breath, "I'll leave you boys to it then I suppose."
Wong shot her a look. He seemed slightly overwhelmed with the questions raining down on him from all sides, albeit not entirely surprised by it. I wonder what he's used to from Doctor Strange. I never met the man personally but he seemed an ass in the height of his career as a surgeon. She left the room to find Steve, Hayden and the rest. Until he disappeared and stumbled upon the possibilities of magic. Hm, news was a little sparse on him. I'll have to rectify that.
Natasha allowed herself to pinch the bridge of her nose. A habit she had picked up from Steve. "FRIDAY, where is Steve?"
"Captain Rogers is in the kitchen with Mister Hogan, Miss Potts and Hayden," the AI replied.
"Thanks," Natasha said without thinking. A habit she had picked up from Tony and his love for any and all of his robots and AIs.
"Would you like me to inform them of your arrival?"
"No, thank you."
Striding into the kitchen, she found the rest of their crew gathered at the table. Steve and Happy had indeed whipped up something to eat. A fruit salad, some sandwiches, a few leftover muffins from Steve's last baking session.
Pepper was the first to notice her. "So, what was Wong doing at the door?"
The men glanced over their shoulders as Natasha got a bowl and slid into a free chair next to Steve. "Apparently Doctor Strange contacted him and gave the instruction to combine magic with weaponry." She began cutting fruit. "Tony is having a field day back there. They won't stop anything anytime soon. And Wong seems to be fine with that for now."
"And what was the news about Clint you got?" Hayden didn't look up from his cutting board. "Anything useful to find him?"
"He has been sighted in Europe and Asia," Natasha answered. There´s no use in lying or trying to gloss over anything. Hayden would only ask until he got an answer. "I should be able to track him down with a bit more investigation on my part."
"Your part," Happy hummed, "So you'll dive into the underworld, hm?"
"It's the only place to get the information I need." Natasha noted how Steve stiffened beside her. He'd probably prefer to come with me just for the sake of it. Then again, he did get the taste the last time and that hopefully warned him off.
Hayden laid his knife down. Looking up at her from across the table. "When are you going to leave?"
She paused. Looked at the teen. The slope of his shoulders, the carefully blank expression, as if he suspected she would be gone for a long time. "In about a week." Both Hayden and Steve stiffened further. Better get this out of the way fast then. "And I don't know when I'll be back."
Pepper's eyes carefully glanced over them all, no doubt coming to her own conclusions amidst all of this. Happy on the other hand just cheerfully cut the fruit and shoved them into the bowl. He seemed immune to the rising tension around him.
"I promise to come back," Natasha ducked her head to meet Hayden's eyes. "I won't leave forever. Just for a short while."
The teen nodded slowly, still not quite raising his head. Steve at her side was only slightly more relaxed than before either. His bulk shifting almost invisibly closer to her. His need to protect his friends after he couldn't save their other teammates apparently almost overpowering his knowledge of her capabilities.
She nudged her shoulder against him. "No need to worry. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself." Natasha offered a wink when Steve finally looked at her. "Besides: I have a whole week to prepare. You won't get rid of me this easily."