The Assassin pt. 1
Vienna, March 2005
“Damn, this is too easy,” Tony complained. “They didn’t even know we were coming.”
He blasted another HYDRA agent on the face. Currently he was raiding the HYDRA compound in a secluded land in Vienna. On the thermal images, JARVIS counted 47 people resided, including 3 HYDRA scientists.
“Perhaps they didn’t get your invitation email, sir,” JARVIS remarked dryly from the com.
Since his AI studied sarcasm a few years ago, he has been trying his hands on it. And every time his effort failed short, the computer program tried and tried again. Tony was proud of his creation for trying to understand the simplicity yet complicated social norm of dry sarcasm. He was a learning program and he never tired to try to impress Tony with his wits.
When he finally succeeded in accomplishing his first act of humor, Tony celebrated it together with his Kid Bots with a glass of DUM-E’s strawberry juice (his oldest AI has been obsessed with his gift juicer) and oil for the bots.
“Oh Merlin,” the genius laughed so hard, he chocked on his tongue. “Good one, JARV.”
“I’m here to please you, sir,” the AI uttered drier as the dessert.
Tony’s cackles just got louder on the com
“Should I be threatened here or something? You talked to JARVIS more than with your uncle. I thought we were partners in crime, “ James’ amused voice shattered through Tony’s musing on the other line of the com. Currently he was cleaning up the West side of the place while James was in the opposite direction.
It’s been 2 years since they, he and James started their crusade on destroying STARK’s weapons and HYDRA. With practice, came experience; therefore, the self-proclaimed Iron Man was able to invent more stuff to help on the Iron Winter missions. Iron Man and Winter Soldier equaled Iron Winter, got it? It sounded less cheesy in his mind.
With his intelligence and input from James, Tony has come out with a lot of useful interesting life-saving gadgets for them to use. For Tony, his black suit has been equipped with cloaking device to make him invisible to the eyes. Combined with a powerful notice-me-not spell, his suit was stealthy as Hell. It wasn’t arrogant if he managed to do the impossible, like combining magic with techs.
He even designed and developed a new costume for James made of black turtleneck covered with navy blue jacket and black leather pants. The color was a personal request from his uncle and a full face black metal mask with mini JARVIS installed on it. The costume was made from dragon hide (except the turtleneck, which was a kevlar) which can endure all magic, fire and most important of all it was bullet-proof. The suit was useful as well as menacing.
Like the suit, the right sleeve has many useful pockets on it to hide small knives and garrote wire. While the left sleeve has been designed with a retractable iron man gauntlet and full metal arm in silver and gold. Father had created one for him to disguise the full growth of his real arm from HYDRA and now Tony just elevated it. The metal arm has a function just like the old Russian metal arm, but lighter and stronger. Tony loved magic and tech so much! Especially combining them, which made the impossible seemed possible. Again, it’s alright to be arrogant if you have the brain for it. Unlike Hammer and his techs. Bleh.
Adding to the ex-spy suit was a magic-imbued necklace that looked like normal wooden beads than could only be taken off by uncle James himself. It was Tony’s gift to him, to protect his mind and to ward him of dangers. He wore it under the turtleneck.
Besides that, Tony was back to inventing weapons, but for James use only. His uncle so loved his guns, knives and sniper rifles.
“You’re the best uncle in the world and I love you, but J is my favorite kid, “ Tony cooed. “Aren’t you J?”
“U would be sad to hear that sir. She thought she was your favorite, “ replied the AI, sorry not sorry tone.
“You’re my favorite, “ Tony gasped dramatically. “But don’t tell her that. We don’t want to shatter her illusion of grandeur.”
“I bet you said that to all of your creations, sir, “ J deadpanned.
“See, you ignored me again, “ James said in a monotone voice. “Oh how did I go wrong in raising this boy.”
“Let’s see. You weren’t in the picture for almost 13 years and when you came back, you were all over the place. It didn’t really raise your case, “ Tony sassed him.
“Rude, “ he sassed back.
J chirped in from the other lines, “ Sirs, it seems that one of the HYDRA agents has self-destructed the place. The count down is 1 minute.”
“Shit. Those paranoid bastards, “ Tony cursed.
There’s no more need for stealth so he forewent his cloaking mode and started coordinating with J to help him map the main control room was.
“It’s okay, eolin sonyeon (korean), I’m in the main control room, “ he told him calmly. In the background there were a few shouting followed by gunshots. “I’m stopping the clock. Currently downloading the files from the computer right now.”
“How long is the download?”
“45%, sir, “ J answered.
“Uncle James, I..”
“I’ll meet you up at the jet after this finish, “ he cut in.
“Okay, then I’ll take the rest of the living bad guys out and tied em’ up to the trees. Don’t forget to call the police, J, “ Tony piled some of the unconscious HYDRA goons on his arms before finding an exit and flew a couple of miles away.
The billionaire threw them onto the ground and began stripping them of their clothes one by one, leaving them with only their tighty whities and undershirts. As he began the process of tying them to the trees, he struck a conversation he has been delaying since he found out about it on the 4th of July.
“ So, are you ever gonna tell me about it?”
“About?”
“I’m a genius for a reason you know, James, “ he huffed. “Don’t think that I don’t know that you’ve been having a secret project of yourself that involves my baby boy J. And I know a couple of files have been missing from the files we plundered from those HYDRA bases before.”
There was silence from the other end of the line.
“You know you can tell me, right? I mean, we’ve been having these secret rendezvous meetings for the cause of annihilating HYDRA for some time now. We don’t exactly have secrets to hide from each other.”
“… I know, little boy, “ there was a quiet hesitance in his godfather’s voice.
“And I mean, “ he stopped talking when he heard one of the men groaned and knocked him back to the land of dream and nazi. “I told you about trying to find Bruce, that genius SOB friend of mine who was always a step ahead of me.”
“I know who Dr. Banner is, Tony, “ the ex-assassin (not so much an ex) said flatly.
But Tony continued his rambled and marched on, “ I got a brain-gasm every time he managed to avoid my detection. His brain is one of a kind, I tell you. It fueled me on to create a better search perimeter with J, you know.”
“And besides that, I need to get General Ross off his trails while at the same time consoling his daughter for having her dad took the shovel talk way off the grid at her fiancé, “ Tony moaned in frustration. “Why is this my life? I finally found someone who can compete with me in the intelligence area and he had to have a life worth of a tv’s soap opera.”
“Tony, “ James sighed. “The download is finish. I’m setting the self-destruct countdown to 5mins. See you at the jet.”
“Uncle James, wait! We haven’t finished talking…”
“Sir, Mr. James has turned off his com, “ the brit computer told him.
“Well, turn it back on, “ Tony frowned, finishing tying up the bad guys.
“He has initiated the protocol, sir, “ J informed him.
“Oh Isolt, “ Tony cursed before resignedly sighed. “I’m in the dog house now, huh J.”
It’s rare for James to initiate this particular protocol. Remembering his previous trauma and sudden moodiness, Tony suggested it to him. And ironically, the protocol itself was named ‘Dog House’.
This protocol gave James the control to stop any communication means to him when he didn’t feel like talking or socializing with anyone, while JARVIS was still allowed to monitor him physically and mentally. It could only be initiated and undone by James himself. He had given JARVIS the permission to undo it if he had been compromised.
“Yes, sir, “ his AI agreed in a flat tone. “In your words, you are screwed.”
“Shit, “ he groaned. “I’m even too guilty to laugh at your choice of words right now.”
“Might I suggest you buy him dinner and a couple boxes of apple strudel, sir?”
“J, you’re a genius.”
***
An hour later…
In Stark’s jet at Vienna International Airport
“Welcome back. Mr. Stark, “ Elise, the french flight attendance welcomed him in front of the jet’s stairs. “I hope you have a pleasant time at the science conference.”
Elise Mullins was a professional 30 something years old widow with a son. Her pretty white blonde hair has been styled neatly and her blue eyes looked at him warmly. The CEO liked how she was friendly but not overly friendly.
A year ago, Tony accidentally met her when she bumped into him outside the airport café. She was quite frazzled and sad at the time, so she was quite taken aback when she spilled her coffee at him. She apologized frantically and Tony got into talking with her until she spilled her beans. Apparently, her babysitter has just quit and it’s difficult to find good help to look after her 5 years old son.
She and her husband were both without family, so after he died, she needed to go back working as a stewardess, but the working time didn’t agree with her. She was reluctant to leave her son and they were both unhappy.
So, since one of Tony’s flight crew has retired, he offered her the job, but after Pepper screened and interviewed her of course. Short story, she got more free time to be with her kid and Tony got another loyal happy staff.
And talking ‘bout Happy, he was smitten for her since that first time he picked him up at the airport. Tony could just see them trying to work it out somehow, maybe like his dad and Hill.
“It was great, the last three days were interesting, “ Tony grinned with his hands full of doggie bags.
“Let me carry those for you sir, “ she smiled.
“Thanks Elise, “ he gave her the two big doggie bags full of dinners, taking the pastry boxes out of the inside of one of the bags. “That one for you, Denise, Ricky and Doug to share. The other one for me and James. You know how big his appetite is, “ he waggled his eyebrows. “He always ate for two.”
The woman also said the last sentence at the same time as Tony.
“You know it, “ he winked and snapped his finger, before walking up with two boxes of fresh pastries for his uncle. After he taken a seat, he asked, “ Is James back yet?”
“Yes, sir. He arrived half an hour earlier and currently resting in his room, “ Denise Hooligan, the 40 year’s old flight attendant with dark brown hair answered, while Elise put the doggie bags on the plane ’s kitchen. She brought Tony a water bottle to drink. “He showed a few pictures he’s been taking. The view was breathtaking. Is he going to be putting another exhibition? Me and my husband quite enjoyed his photos. They were well-taken.”
After HYDRA has been flushed out of SHIELD, uncle James filled his idle time with taking pictures and even taking a few photography classes. Turned out, he had a knack for photography, probably because he was a trained sniper and used to look through scopes.
Mom showed his pictures to a friend who’s a gallery owner and he was intrigued to show his works. And since James enjoyed his status as an ordinary civilian, mom proposed to become his middleman. And his photos did sell quite a lot, which he didn’t need the money anyway with the money he got from SHIELD while working as a high level agent operative. He donated the money from his pictures to the vets and his remaining living relatives, anonymously.
“I don’t know about that, “ Tony said, eyes wondering out to the window.
“It’s quite unfortunate he decided to use an alias for his works, “ she sighed sadly. “He is handsome and I bet many people would enjoy his works if he decided to show his face at his shows.”
“Ah, “ he fidgeted awkwardly. “He is quite reclusive, so I didn’t see that going to happen. You do know how much he enjoy his anonymous identity.”
“Yes. You’re right, “ she shook her head. “If he happened to open another exhibition, please tell us. We’re big fans of his.”
“I’ll make sure the invitation delivers to your house, “ Tony held his bottle like he’s going to cheer for champagne.
“Thank you Mr. Stark, “ she looked delightful. “You’re a dear.”
“But be sure to keep his real identity hush hush, okay, “ he warned her softly.
“Don’t worry, sir, “ She looked gravely serious. “Only me and my husband knew. We honor his privacy so much. He did give us a great favor of taking our daughter’s graduation photos. They were so lovely, the whole family kept asking us who taken them.”
“Denise, I think Mr. Stark is tired enough from his trip, “ Elise came from behind her. “Lets let him rest.”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry, “ she frowned apologetically, putting her hand on her cheek.
“Nah, it’s fine ladies, “ he waved them off. “It’s late anyway, so I let you girls have your dinner and beauty rest as well at your rooms. (Stark jets even provided a couple of small cabins for sleeping for its crews, *take that commercial airlines) Could you help me tell Doug to take off?”
“Of course, Mr. Stark, “ they chirped in together.
Not 10 minutes later, Doug informed from the speaker that they have permission to take off. After the jet was on air, Elise and Denise came bringing their dinners on plates and a couple of water bottles before saying their goodnight.
Tony was mulling over apologizing to his uncle for prying over his business. It was his choice and Tony’s curiosity put him in a tough spot. He hated fighting with people he cared about and after what James has been through, he deserved the choice to keep his secret.
“Brave up, Stark, “ he marched on to the door and rapped his knuckles on it. “Uncle James? I’m sorry for earlier. I shouldn’t have pried. But you know me. I’m like a cat. A cute cat. Curiosity kills a cat, right?“ He rambled on nervously. “But, it’s not an excuse for my behavior. Mom will kill me if she knew. Please don’t tell her. I’m sorry. Truce? I bought you some apple strudel. We can eat them after our late dinner.”
A few minutes later, the door opened and his uncle peaked out from behind it with his five o’clock shadow and an exhausted look on his face. “As long as we can eat in the room.”
“Deal, “ he grinned happily like when he managed to bring his uncle out of his room that first time on Christmas years ago.
It was later after dinner when the older man opened up to him over dessert.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, “ he said slowly and quietly.
“Uncle James, it’s not…”
“Hey, I never kept a secret from you lille dreng, “ he smiled apologetically. “So it wasn’t entirely your fault that you want to know. But when I find it, you’re going to be the first one I tell. Okay?”
“Okay, “ he patted his arm. “You don’t need to make it a promise. It’s your choice.”
“Yes, and I want you to see my secret after I found it, “ he continued.
“Okay, “ Tony chewed on his dessert nonchalantly, but inside, he was pleased that his uncle trusted him this much with whatever this secret was.
Suddenly, J told him of an incoming call from the speaker. Yeah, he even installed his AI on the jet.
“There’s a call for you, sir. It’s from an unregistered number in Budapest, sir,” he told him. “Should I look over the caller through our satellite, sir?”
With his permission, JARVIS pinpointed the caller to be agent Barton in Budapest.
“Huh, “ Tony said casually. “I thought he was on some secret mission or something. Put him on J.”
When the call came through, Tony began rattling. “I thought you’re on a mission or something, birdbrain. How is the wifey and the little tyke? I still reserved my name for your next spawn’s godfather, right?”
“Yes. They’re fine. And for the hundredth time yes, “ he grumbled under his breath. “And for the other hundredth time, I’m not sorry I picked Phil to be Cooper’s godfather.”
“You said that, but for the other another one hundredth time you kept saying the exact same ‘sorry, I’m not sorry’,” he singsonged. “So we both know you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry for telling you that Laura was even pregnant,” he hissed.
“Yeah, yeah,” he grinned. James rolled his eyes and resumed eating his apple strudel. “So what’s up robin hood?”
“I need your help.”
“Wait a sec.”
He looked towards his uncle and silently mouthed ‘Music James. Loud’.
After the man put on his headset reluctantly and Tony made sure to turned the highest volume on the Starkpod, he turned around, so that James couldn’t read his lips and answered the phone again, “ Sorry. James is with me but he can’t hear us now. I’m listening.”
“This is classified information, so don’t even think about hacking SHIELD for it, man,” he warned him, tone dangerously serious. “So, Sitwell, me and a bunch of other agents were…”
“Where’s agent agent?” He interrupted.
“Phil has been assigned by Fury to do something else. Cla.si.fied. Don’t even think about it Stark, “ Clint grunted. “Anyway, we’ve been assigned to eliminate this person, shoot to kill order. She is extremely dangerous. I’m talking ‘bout pretty on legs kind of Russian gal but batshit lethal and skillful like May. She's an A level actress and the best in her field of infiltration. She’s like a girl version of the winter soldier, before he turned a new leaf.”
Tony turned slightly around to look at his uncle and looking quite alarmed at Clint’s description, which alerted James. The billionaire shrugged and smiled before turning around again, but not before catching the photographer looking at him unconvinced.
“About 4 hours ago, I was watching her through my scope. Sitwell was on my ear, telling me to shoot, “ he paused. “But then I noticed something else about her. She looked tired. Still dangerous and alert, but exhausted. She was sitting on a table in front of a café. She was a sitting duck on an open space. Practically begging to be killed. I mean, she’s a professional, you know. That’s just suicide.”
“You didn’t kill her, did you?” His question came out more as a fact rather than a question. He knew Barton. The man might be a trained killer but he loved strays as much as his best friend, the bland agent.
“Bingo.”
“Let me guess,” Tony rattled in monotone. “You went rogue, kind off. And you saved her and then got the Hell away from SHIELD. Evaded captures and probably causing some property damages worth millions of dollars. After you were save, you stayed somewhere save and tried to pitch her in about working for SHIELD. Am I right?”
“Almost, “ he said hesitantly. “She started fighting me back when we got to a safe place. I managed to tranquilize her before this phone call, but that’s just because she didn’t fight hard enough.”
“Ooookay, “ Tony blowed up his cheeks before breathing it all out. “You should included the free dental insurance in your pitch. That part probably will help you. So what exactly do you need me for? Extraction?”
“Yeah, “ he told him from the other line. “And probably convinced your dad and godmother to put in some good word to Fury. If Coulson was here, I could have convinced him easier then Sitwell. He’s cool but the man was a by the book kind of man. Shame, he’s almost as good a handler as Phil.”
“I’ll made you a deal Barton, “ he sighed. “I’m on board jet Stark right now and almost crossing the border of France on the way to New York. It would take me two hours to get to Budapest airport, so use those time to convince the crazy assassin chick, yeah? When she said yes, call me back and I’ll make it happen with my father and godmother.”
“You won’t regret it, Tony.”
Tony could practically see the smirk on that smug face in his mind. “Yeah, yeah. My uncle is with me, so don’t let her out of her leash in my jet.”
“Aye aye Capitan.”
Tony grumbled, “ I hope I don’t regret this. What’s the name of your guest anyway? Anna Kournikova?”
“Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a the black widow.”
***