The Avengers
***NYC CAB ON THE WAY TO AVENGERS TOWER***
"Do we have to meet them now? I can stay at the apartment alone." Veronika looked between them, worried, even though they'd already been in the cab for 30 minutes.
"Ver, you'll be fine we'll be with you the whole time; you won't be stuck alone with them." Nat assured.
"Promise?"
"We promise now relax. We're almost there." Steve smiled at her. Him and Natasha looked out their separate windows.
While Veronika sighed and looked at her hands, purple lights coming out of them, this happened when she was overly nervous. She rubbed her hands on the jeans Nat bought her, this from when they helped her get clothes (thanks to Tony’s credit card).
“Things will be okay, just calm down. There’s no pressure. You’ve done bigger things…well now you’re meeting with heroes. People who’ve done far better than you have, maybe a little pressure.”
Nat looked at the girl next to her now, then took her hand.
“Hey, you’ll do just fine, okay?” She smiled.
Steve spoke next.
“She’s right kid, once we get there and it’s all talked out, they’ll welcome you with open arms.”
“What if they don’t hear you two out? What if they don’t do the ‘with open arms thing’?” she asked. “I’ve never interviewed to be on a team I was always assigned, or ordered. Also, I’ve heard Tony Stark is a stubborn son of a bitch.”
“I've heard it all but you're still a child, watch your language.”
“Sorry Steve…” She whispered. “He’s a stubborn son of a gun…Better?”
Nat shook her head laughing at the exchange. “Oh, don’t worry Tony will like you, Ver. You’re almost as sarcastic as him.”
Veronika rolled her eyes, holding in a small laugh. “Okay I believe you.”
***AVENGERS TOWER***
They walked in together. Nat is still holding Veronika’s hand, almost like a mother would when crossing the street with her child. Veronika didn’t mind though it gave her a sense of peace.
Steve gave her smiles as they walked, and she’d smile slightly back.
“I can do this.”
She picked up her head, standing straight with confidence. Painting a smirk on her face as they walked into the elevator and Steve pressed a button. They stood waiting till they reached their designated floor.
“Ready?” Steve asked.
“Ready.”
“That’s my girl.” Nat smiled and gave her a playful nudge.
“‘My girl’?” Veronika smiled and gave a big nod, and they walked out the elevator.
They saw a group of people chatting, sitting around. Veronika could only assume this was the Avengers ‘cause she saw Thor messing with the hammer she heard he uses, and the man she knew to be Bruce Banner in the corner away from the flipping object. Veronika let out a coughing noise as she looked at them all and that’s when Tony saw Steve and Natasha.
“Finally, the cavalry's here- wait what is that?” Tony said standing up.
"'What is that?' That is rude." Veronika thought of the comment.
“Wait, is this her?” Clint popped up as he saw the girl standing between Steve and Nat.
“Well, there goes the element of surprise.” Steve joked. “But seriously, everyone this is Veronika Preston. She has been living with me for the past six months.”
“And I have been training her as well. We have a proposition for you guys.”
“Okay what is it?” Tony asked, looking at his device, typing something into it.
“We want her to join the team.” This is what made Thor turn around and Bruce come closer.
“This small child? I’m sorry Lady Natasha and Sir Steve, but would that be the smartest thing to do?”
“First of all, with all due respect sir I’m turning sixteen next month so I’m NOT a child.” she semi-glared and with her accent everyone stared at her. “And second of all, why are you researching me Mr. Stark?” She looked him straight in the eyes.
He raised a brow.
“Wait how did you know I was doing that?”
“It’s kind of her thing. Well ONE of her things.” Nat explained.
“Why are you even researching her Tony?” Steve asked.
“Well, you know so we’re not just bringing people onto the team willy nilly especially so. Did you know she’s wanted in 5 countries, wait no I’m sorry, 10 countries. She’s an assassin. Why the hell did you bring her here again?”
“Tony I was an assassin, so was Barton. What’s your point?”
“Well why does a kid have that kind of rap sheet? Why do you want her on the team?”
“Because sir, I want to change my cards. Those things were NEVER my choice.” She glared still at him. “I’m not what they made me.”
“Who made you?”
“HYDRA, The Red Room. Whichever comes first in the books.” she shrugged.
Barton went to Nat after Veronika said that. “I thought we destroyed it?” he whispered.
“No, I thought we did too, but that isn’t the matter at hand. This girl has trained exceptionally hard guys. We will supervise her, just give her a chance.”
“We’ve seen what she’s capable of, she’d be a good addition.” Steve added.
“Fine, but if we get killed because of miss Russian princess. Bruce’s green friend has the go ahead.”
Veronika’s glare intensified. “Yeah ‘cause if I wanted to, you’d be first.” She grumbled. Natasha gave her a look. “Sorry.” Natasha just chuckled a bit.
“Alright, then she’s coming on the mission with us. Suit up.” Steve ordered the
“Ver, let’s get you one of my old suits, okay?” Nat said, motioning her to follow.
“Wait so I’m actually going? You think that’s a good idea?” She looked a bit worried. “You think I’m ready?”
“You’ll do great. Show ‘em what you can do.” Nat smirked and brought her to where her suits were showing her which she’d have. “Just until Stark can build you a suit later on, okay? I’ll even give you a few of my guns, I think you’re handy with those?” Veronika held the fabric and looked at it.
“I am. I hope you’re right Ms- Natasha.” She smiled and Nat gave her a nod, taking her own suit and leaving Veronika to get ready. Leaving a few guns out for her to take as well. Veronika put on the suit, zipped it up and looked at herself in a mirror. Her hair in a crown braid Nat helped her with. She fixed the holsters putting the guns into them. She practiced making daggers a few times then walked out of the room.
“Ready kid?” Steve came up to her.
She gave a nod, “Let’s do this thing…”
“EVERYONE ON THE JET.” Nat called. They all went on and Veronika felt like this was normal but definitely new. She just needed deep breaths.
***SOKOVIA, HYDRA BASE, 2015***
The team runs into battle. Fighting against the soldiers of the base. Veronika was in the car with Nat and she shot at the people who came to attack, threw a few daggers. She luckily was not backing down. Soon they ditched the car and she, using her powers, floated in the air and dropped onto the ground carefully. She ran away from the team as she was fighting one of the soldiers, he was trying to hit her. She grabbed his hand in purple clouds and with her other hand touched his temple and he fell.
“Sleep tight.” She chuckled and kept going through the field hearing everyone talking in her ear.
“Clint’s been hit!” she heard Nat yell.
“Enhanced in the field-” Steve talked next but the words were mixed up. It cut off quickly as she was running through the area.
“What is it- Guys?” She asked. Suddenly she felt something coming but before she could react it knocked her down. “Ow-” she started getting up when she saw a man walking up.
“You didn’t see that coming?” he stopped when he saw her. She looked at him.
“Actually, yeah I did.” She lifted him in the air, eyes had a slight glow, he knocked her down of course she’d be a bit pissed.
“How-”
“Who are you!?” She asked pushing him to a tree as she walked up to him.
He stared at her.
“None of your business prințesă.”
“Refrain from calling me nicknames Silver.” She said pointing at his hair. She stared at him and spoke into her coms. “I’ve got the enhanced.” All she heard was static. She groaned. “Great, my first mission and I’m too far from the team.
“Oh, so that’s why I’ve never seen you before. You’re a new one hmm, draga?”
“What’d I say, ‘about the nicknames?” She flicked her wrist, and his mouth was covered in stars. “That’s better, now I'm going to take you to the team.” she smirked as he glared, and she made it so what she was carrying him would follow her. Still talking into her coms to find where she could hear the team. The boy behind her struggled against the restraints she had on him. But it was no use.
“How is she doing this?”
“It’s called, having powers, I’m sure you’re used to the term Mr. Maximoff, is it? Also, sorry I couldn’t help but read your mind.”
“Damnit she’s like Wanda!”
“Wanda’s your sister I’m guessing?”
“Get out of my head.”
“Ugh fine,” she flicked her wrist. His mouth was uncovered. “I need someone to talk to.”
He stayed silent.
“Oh, a silent treatment. You’re funny Pietro.”
“I don’t want to talk to a friend of Tony Stark.”
“Oh, I’m not friends with Tony Stark. You and I both hate him.” She laughed with a shrug.
“Then why are you working with him, prințesă?”
“That is none of your business, Băiat de argint.” She sent a smirk over her shoulder.
(Silver boy)
“Vorbești româna?”
(You speak Romanian?)
“Mhmm, and like twenty other languages but enough about me.” she looked at the ground and spoke to her com again. “I’ve got the enhanced, can anyone hear me?” She waited when she finally got something.
“I got Strucker. But there’s another enhanced-”
“His sister I know. Watch out for her-”
“Guys, I’ve got something big…” Tony came over the coms and suddenly he gasped.
“Tony?” Veronika asked.
“I’ll go look for him, Romanoff, it's time for a lullaby.”
“On it. Meet you on the jet with Banner.”
“Meet you there.” She turned and looked at the boy behind her. “Your lucky day Pietro. You’re coming to New York City.”
“Yes but see I don’t want to.” He glared again fighting the restraints. But stopped when he saw his sister walking up behind the girl holding him. A smirk slid across his face.
“You don’t really have a choice- why’re you smirking like that?”
**MIND STATE FROM OCTOBER 2014**
She felt odd and yet again before she could react, she felt dizzy and dropped her hands looking around. Pietro was gone and she wasn’t in a forest anymore. She was in a big room.
“Again.” A male’s voice came to her ears, his accent demanding.
Her body moved into a dance. Ballet. Something she loved and hated.
She wasn’t in control, moving in the line in a certain choreography. Dancing and spinning around with the other girls.
“Veronika!” She stopped and turned to the voice calling her.
“Madame?”
“He wants to see you.” The woman said. Motioned her to come forward. Veronika followed knowing who she was speaking of.
Setting changed in a flash.
“Nightshade, my prized widow.” the head of the Red Room.
“General Dreykov. You wanted to see me?”
“How’d your last mission go?”
“I would say it did. All targets were eliminated and not a trace.” Veronika said with a smirk.
“Hmm. Then why did we find this?” He waved someone in.
“One of his guards and another person came in. The second person had a bag over their head which, as soon as they were in front of Veronika, was torn off and the boy was thrown at her feet.
She froze in fear. She released one person, he was her age, the only kid…she didn’t think it’d be so horrible.
“This is what you should’ve done.”
A shot rang.
Veronika in fear and she was yelling for forgiveness-
***AWAKE***
“VERONIKA? KID? Wake up please.” Natasha yelled worriedly.
Veronika woke up and all of a sudden, a fight or flight response happened. She jumped up looking around.
How did she end up on the ground? What happened? She felt heavy in her chest, causing her breathing to be heavy. She went to her knees.
“I went back- I-” She was crying, a few tears running down her cheeks. Natasha took her into her arms.
“You’re okay. You’re safe, we’ve got you…” she whispered consoling her.
Steve came over to the girl and helped Nat with her. They were both concerned.
Telling all would be fine. She was safe.
Was she?
Memories never fade….