Avengers - Part Three
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DARK ROOM, CARRIER - NIGHT
Fury is talking with the Council, four shadowy figures on screens.
"Fuck me, not the council," Tony groans, and murmurs of agreement are heard from the Avengers.
"Who is the council, love!?" Regulus asks Nikita.
She turns around with a grimace. "They try and decide what's best for everyone and control everything but they just make it ten times worse."
He just looks at her and his lips curl in, in frustration. "I'm guessing they have something to do with what happened over Christmas?"
"Somewhat, the government sucks."
COUNCILMAN
This is out of line, Director. You're dealing with forces you can't control.
FURY
You ever been in a war, councilman?
In a fire fight? Did you feel an over abundance of control?
COUNCILMAN
You're saying that this Asgard is declaring war on our planet?
"Asgard wants nothing but peace," Thor said offended.
"We know Thor," Nikita said quickly. "Honestly, even Loki wouldn't attack earth in his right mind. We are too beneath him to even consider attacking."
People stared at her incredulously.
"She's right you know," Loki said smirking.
Everyone kept staring at them.
"What?" Nikita asked.
"When did you two get so close that Nikita knows how your mind works?" Natasha asked bewildered.
"Well when I told you all about him being mind controlled, and none of you except Thor believed me, we started talking. I'd write two letters a week and send them with Thor to Asgard and Loki would do the same and send letters back when he'd visit Earth."
"So that's how..." Tony continued.
"Yeah that's how he became my best friend," Nikita said smiling and gave Loki a big kiss on the cheek.
"Get off me," Loki spluttered, glaring at her with no real heat.
"So all this time you've been conversing?"
"Yes, I don't see the big deal. You guys didn't believe me. I could read his mind. It was so scrambled and made no sense, until afterwards when his eyes went completely green I could see everything he was thinking and picturing. Nobody believed me. I thought he deserved a chance."
Nikita looked at Clint the only one she was worried about, because he was brainwashed because of Loki.
"Nikita, it's okay, don't look so stressed. He was mind controlled too, I can't blame him for his actions. I just wish you'd told me sooner, but I also understand why you didn't."
"Thanks Clint, I needed to hear that."
FURY
Not Asgard, Loki.
COUNCILWOMAN
He can't be working alone. What about the other one, his brother?
FURY
Our intelligence says Thor is not a hostile. But he's worlds away and we can't depend on him to help either. It's up to us.
COUNCILMAN
Which is why you should be focusing on Phase Two, it was designed for exactly this purpose.
"Shouldn't have been designed in the first place," Steve says hotly towards Fury who grimaces.
"Wasn't my best idea," he admits, which shocks all the Avengers.
FURY
Phase Two isn't ready; our enemy is. We need a response team.
COUNCILMAN
The Avengers Initiative was shut down.
"They just love us when they want us and hate us when something doesn't go there way," Sam scowls.
"That's how the government works, bird brain," Nikita comments smirking at him. Bucky sits up with a proud smile on his face at her dig.
"Whatever, snowflake."
FURY
This isn't about the Avengers.
COUNCILMAN
We're running the world's greatest covert security network and you're gonna leave the fate of the human race to a handful of freaks.
"Some of us may have freaky powers," Tony says, pointing at Nikita, Bucky, Wanda and Vision, "but we aren't freaks."
FURY
I'm not leaving anything to anyone. We need a response team. These people may be isolated, unbalanced even, but I believe, with the right push, they can be exactly what we need.
COUNCILWOMAN
You believe!
COUNCILMAN
War isn't won by sentiment, Director.
FURY
No, It's won by soldiers.
"Fury," Natasha begins to say.
"I know Romanoff, we aren't soldiers."
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INT. GYM - NIGHT
STEVE ROGERS, alter ego of Captain America, is hitting a punching bag in a gym. He has several flashbacks of World War Two. During his flashbacks...
CAPTAIN AMERICA (V.O)
There's not enough time. I gotta put her in the water.
...he hits the bag harder, faster...
PEGGY CARTER (V.O)
You won't be alone.
Steve looks down at the mention of Peggy and Bucky just sighs.
At that time, the difference between him seeing Peggy and him waking up wouldn't have felt like long for him, but now it's been years since he was unfrozen, he needs to move on.
...he hits the bag even faster.
SCIENTIST (V.O)
Oh my God. This guy's still alive.
Steve throws the hardest punch he has left and it knocks the bag across the room. Breathing hard, Steve picks up another bag from a line on the floor and hangs it up. He begins to hit it. And-
FURY (across the room)
Trouble sleeping?
STEVE (hitting the bag)
Slept for seventy years, Sir. I think I've had my fill.
"How did that happen?" Albus asks Steve.
Remembering Nikita's warning, Steve just turns to him and replies, "science, but don't worry about it, it's gone."
It might be a small lie, they can never be sure with HYDRA, but he doesn't need to know that.
Fury slowly approaches Steve.
FURY
Then you should be out, celebrating, seeing the world.
STEVE
When I went under, the world was at war. I wake up- they say we won. They didn't say what we lost.
"Imagine going to sleep during one war, waking up and getting thrust into a new one," someone says.
"Yeah it would be horrible, almost like it never ended," their friend comments back, making the Avengers hum in agreement.
FURY
We've made some mistakes along the way, some very recently.
STEVE (removing hand wrap)
You here with a mission, Sir?
FURY
I am.
STEVE
Trying to get me back in the world?
FURY
Trying to save it.
Fury hands Steve a folder with information on the Tesseract in it.
STEVE
HYDRA's secret weapon.
"What's HYDRA?"
"A WWII NAZI Terrorist Organisation."
"WWII?
"NAZI's?"
"Do they not know anything?" Tony asks the Avengers quietly, and Regulus turns around to respond.
"The Wizarding World doesn't have a lot to do with the muggle world and what goes on in it. Most of the people here wouldn't even know you or what you've faced before. Families like mine find people like you beneath them, you saw how my mother reacted when Nikita was introduced. Only people here with muggles for parents may have an idea. So expect a lot of stupid questions."
"But you know it all?"
"Yeah Nikita opened my eyes and three of my friends eyes to what else is happening in the world and all the advancements that muggles have done. I used to be prejudice as well, but that slowly went away and then I met Nikita and it was like a flip switched in my head."
Tony just nodded before replying to the students, "WWII was a war that happened in the early 1900's and the NAZI's were the group that was trying to take over countries and eradicate Jewish citizens."
They Great Hall nodded in more understanding.
FURY
Howard Stark fished that out of the ocean when he was looking for you. He thought what we think. The Tesseract could be the key to unlimited sustainable energy. That's something the world sorely needs.
STEVE
Who took it from you?
FURY
He's called Loki. He's- not from around here. There's a lot we'll have to bring you up to speed on if you're in. The world has gotten even stranger than you already know.
STEVE
At this point I doubt anything would surprise me.
Steve gets up, grabs his duffel bag, and another punching bag while Fury is talking.
FURY
Ten bucks says you're wrong. There's a debriefing packet waiting for you back at your apartment. Is there anything you can tell us about the Tesseract that we ought to know now?
"Big mistake, Steve," Clint said giggling. "The only person who beats anyone in a bet is Nikita, and I think that's cause she's got mind reading powers. Probably why she always wins poker."
"Don't go complaining," Nikita pouts. "You love when we go to Vegas and I bring us home a shit ton of money."
STEVE (removing other hand wrap)
You should have left it in the ocean.
Steve exits.
———◼️◼️◼️———
EXT. OCEAN, NEW YORK CITY - NIGHT
IRON MAN aka Tony Stark, is underwater. He attaches a device to a massive pipe. He flies up out of the water and towards the city and begins talking with PEPPER POTTS.
IRON MAN
Good to go on this end. The rest is up to you.
PEPPER (V.O) (over Iron Man headset)
You disconnected the transmission lines? Are we off the grid?
INSIDE IRON MAN HEADSET:
TONY (into headset)
Stark Tower's about to become a beacon of self-sustaining clean energy.
"I love that that's the path you took your company, Tony," Wanda says smiling.
"Thanks Wanda," he said smiling back. They had had a lot of ups and downs themselves and it was good to see their friendship was building.
"You've come a long way from weapons development," Pietro complimented, and Tony just beamed back.
PEPPER (on Iron Man HUD display)
Well, assuming the arc reactor takes over and it actually works.
EXT. STREETS OF MIDTOWN MANHATTAN - CONTINUOUS
Iron Man peels around a corner, heading straight for STARK TOWER.
TONY (V.O)
Iassume. Light her up.
Stark Tower lights up.
"That is so cool," someone cries out.
Even the Pureblood wizards and witches are looking at the screen in fascination. They had no idea this was how muggles could be living. Not everyone obviously, but the advance equipment they had, was astonishing.
PEPPER (V.O) (over Iron Man headset)
How does it look?
EXT. STARK TOWER - CONTINUOUS (NIGHT)
TONY (V.O) (over Iron Man headset)
Like Christmas...
INSIDE IRON MAN HEADSET:
TONY (into headset)
...but with more- me.
The Avengers all nodded their heads with a playful eye roll. Knowing that is completely true.
"I can't believe that's what it looks like from the inside," Rabastian breaths.
He had learnt some technology equipment and devices from Nikita, but not what he was seeing now.
PEPPER (on Iron Man HUD display)
We've got to go wider on the public awareness campaign. You need to do some press.
Iron Man flies over a overpass & up the side of Stark Tower.
PEPPER (V.O) (over Iron Man headset)
I'm in DC tomorrow. I'm working on the zoning for the next three buildings.
TONY (V.O) (over Iron Man headset)
Pepper, you're killing me at the moment. Remember, enjoy the moment.
"You guys are complete opposites, but work so well together," someone compliments.
Tony's breath hitched slightly and Nikita knew what was going on in his head. He had recently lost Pepper, but Nikita knew that everything would work out. They were polar opposites but perfect for one another.
EXT. STARK TOWER LANDING PAD - CONTINUOUS
PEPPER (V.O) (over Iron Man headset)
Then get in here and I will.
Iron Man lands on the landing pad of the tower and walks along a walkway, robotic arms deconstructing his armor.
JARVIS
Sir, Agent Coulson of SHIELD is on the line.
"WHO IS THAT?" A few people cried out.
"It's my Artificial Intelligence. It's an AI. Basically it could be seen as a type of robot that doesn't have a body and does anything I request.
TONY
I'm not in. I'm actually out.
JARVIS
Sir, I'm afraid he's insisting.
TONY
Grow a spine, JARVIS. I got a date.
"This is honestly one of my favourite lines to hear," James Potter laughed loudly, but a few people around the hall murmured their agreements.
INT. PENTHOUSE, STARK TOWER - CONTINUOUS (NIGHT) 40
Pepper stands in front of a holographic display, a little confused.
PEPPER
Levels are holding steady- I think.
Tony approaches Pepper.
TONY
Of course they are, I was directly involved. Which leads me to my next question. How does it feel to be a genius?
Tony turns off the display and Pepper and he face each other.
PEPPER
Well, ah, I really wouldn't know now would I?
TONY
What do you mean? All this came from you.
PEPPER
No, all this came from that.
Pepper taps Tony's arc reactor.
"What is that?" A Ravenclaw asked.
"Ah, I think it'll be explained later, but if it doesn't I'll try and explain."
TONY
Give yourself some credit, please. Stark Tower is your baby. Give yourself- twelve percent of the credit.
PEPPER
Twelve percent?
"Tony, you didn't," Clint said exasperated.
"Yeah, look, I did."
"You paid for that didn't you?"
"100%."
TONY
An argument can be made for fifteen.
Pepper walks toward the living room.
PEPPER
Twelve percent of my baby?
TONY (following Pepper)
Well, I did do all the heavy lifting. Literally, I lifted the heavy things and sorry but, the security snafu? That was on you.
PEPPER
Oh!
TONY
My private elevator.
Pepper pours champagne in two glasses.
PEPPER
You mean our elevator.
Snickers went through the hall at the meaning this message could hold.
TONY
Yeah, it was teeming with sweaty workmen. I'm going to pay for that comment about percentages in some subtle way later aren't I?
PEPPER
Not gonna be that subtle.
"Can you tell us what she did?"
"Not something I want to remember."
TONY
I'll tell you what, next building is gonna say 'Potts' on the tower.
PEPPER
On the lease!
TONY
Call your mum, can you bunk over?
"One way to ask if someone can stay the night," Sirius snickers.
Tony just turned to them and gave him a wink.
JARVIS
Sir, the telephone. I'm afraid my protocols are being overridden.
TONY
Ah-
Tony picks up his high-tech phone and holds up.
AGENT COULSON (on phone screen)
Mr. Stark, we need to talk.
TONY
You have reached the Life Model Decoy of Tony Stark. Please leave a message.
Laughter rang out around the hall. Nobody could lie and say that Tony wasn't charming or charismatic, especially when acting like this.
AGENT COULSON (on phone screen)
This is urgent.
TONY
Then leave it urgently.
Giggles erupted from the Prewitt twins and the Avengers looked over.
"He just - Gideon
has a come back - Fabian
for everything." - Together
The elevator opens and Coulson comes out.
TONY
Security breach.
(to Pepper)
That's on you!
PEPPER
Phil! Come in!
Pepper and Tony walk over to Coulson, who is entering
TONY
Phil?
"You look like a confused puppy that is unsure what's going on."
AGENT COULSON
I can't stay.
TONY
Uh, his first name is Agent.
"You jealous there?"
"Not at all," Tony huffs.
"Did you actually think his name was Agent?"
"Honestly, I have no idea."
PEPPER
Come on in, we're celebrating.
TONY (fake smiling)
Which is why he can't stay.
"Sassy Tony is my favourite Tony," Rhodes laughs at his best friend.
AGENT COULSON (handing Tony the laptop)
We need you to look this over, as soon as possible.
Tony stares at the laptop.
TONY
I don't like being handed things.
"Why don't you like being handed things?" Marleen McKinnon asks.
"You've never actually told us why you don't like being handed things," Bruce comments.
"When I was younger, somebody tampered with what was going to be handed to me and I got badly injured. Since then, I wont take anything handed to me directly."
"Honestly, I just thought you were stuck up," Natasha snickers and Tony gives her a playful eye roll. Everyone on the team has been figuring out that his playful, I don't care demeanour is a front.
PEPPER
That's fine because I love to be handed things. So, let's trade.
Pepper swaps with Coulson -- he has with her glass and she has the laptop. She then takes Tony's glass and passes the laptop on to him.
PEPPER
Thank you.
TONY
Official consulting hours are between eight and five every other Thursday.
"Is that really true?" Someone asks.
Before Tony could respond, Nikita yells out, "LIAR!"
"Don't listen to him, he takes them when he wants and that's it." Tony just playfully rolls his eyes before confirming what she said was true.
AGENT COULSON
This isn't a consultation.
PEPPER
Is this about the Avengers?
"Oh, Pepper just signed her own grave."
Coulson looks at Pepper
PEPPER
Which I know nothing about.
"Pepper needs to learn how to lie," Shuri giggles.
"I'd say she's gotten better since spending time with assassin one and assassin two over here," Tony confirms pointing at Nat and Nikita.
TONY
The Avengers Initiative was scrapped, I thought, and I didn't even qualify.
PEPPER
I didn't know that either.
"Do you tell Pepper everything?" Sam Wilson questions.
"Yeah, I do, I'm sure Nikita and Clint tell their partners everything too."
"90% of everything, I'd say," Nikita replies and Regulus nods.
"Some stuff I know she doesn't want to talk about yet, or if something that drastically affect me if she told me, I don't expect her to tell me until she's ready," Regulus confirms.
"Same with me and Laura," Clint nods.
TONY
Yeah, apparently I'm volatile, self-obsessed, don't play well with others.
"I'm sorry Tony, if I knew all of what you were doing was because of symptoms of your poisoning I would've spoken to Fury to do another assessment," Natasha says apologetic. "You may have some of those traits but you have many other amazing traits that I didn't put in the file, giving you a bad rapt."
"It's okay, Red. I was a bit hurt and angry when it first happened, but shit changes."
PEPPER
That I did know.
AGENT COULSON
This isn't about personality profiles anymore.
TONY
Whatever! Ms. Potts, got a sec?
PEPPER
Half a moment.
Pepper leaves Coulson at the door and goes over to Tony.
TONY
You know, I thought we were having a moment.
PEPPER
I was having twelve percent of a moment.
"That was cold, Pepper," Maria Hill smirks.
Tony just grumbles about past mistakes and getting punished for what he said.
Tony gives Pepper a look.
PEPPER
This seems serious. Phil looks pretty shaken.
TONY
How would you notice- why is he Phil?
"Can anyone else smell that?" Nikita says sniffing the air.
Everyone looks confused except for Wanda and Loki who are trying not to giggle at what her mind is saying.
Clint and Natasha pick up what she is saying, and Natasha takes a sniff.
"Oooft, it smells strong, Nikita. Clint can you smell it?"
"Yeah," he sniffs, "it reeks of jealousy in here," he says deadpan.
This causes the three of them to look at each other with straight faces before breaking down in giggles, as the rest of the Avengers start laughing, setting off the Great Hall. Tony however, just sits there pouting, not even bothering to defend himself this time.
PEPPER
What is all this?
TONY
This is- ah...
Tony grabs the holograms on the laptop and throws them up. Holograms fill the room, each is a article on one of the Avengers.
TONY
...this!
They both look upon the screens, observing them.
PEPPER
I'm going to take the jet to DC tonight.
TONY
Tomorrow.
PEPPER
You have homework. You have a lot of homework.
TONY
Well, what if I didn't?
PEPPER
If you didn't? You mean when you
finished? Well, um, then-
She leans in and whispers in Tony's ear.
"Do any of us want to know what she said?" Sirius Black questions.
"Ah, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say no. There are way too many children around."
TONY
Square deal. Fly safe.
They kiss. Coulson looks away.
PEPPER
Work hard.
(approaching Coulson)
PEPPER
So, any chance you're driving by LaGuardia?
AGENT COULSON
I can drop you off.
PEPPER (O.S)
Fantastic. Ooh, I want to hear about the ah- cellist, is that still a thing?
"Oh so that's who you were talking about, Tony?" Steve questions.
"Yeah I didn't know, Pepper knew so much about Coulson's life though."
As they are talking, Tony sees the Tesseract -- It peaks his interest.
AGENT COULSON (O.S)
She moved back to Portland.
Pepper and Coulson board the elevator.
PEPPER
What?...Boo.
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