The Start of a Partnership
“Wait a second, Natasha Romanoff, THAT Romanoff, is your sister !”
“Yep. Not but blood but we were raised together,”
“Ahe said all of her family was dead.”
“Nope we are all alive. Well were, our mother....you know, and no idea about our Dad, not that I care. He and Natasha are the same, leave you behind for their own needs.”
“Ah I see where she got it from. And you said your father is a super soldier ?”
“Yep. The soviet unions response to Captain America. It made his ego grow as big as a whale.....just like idiots.”
“Huh.....I guess, unless you turn into a Hulk, then they turn into super idiots.”
“Take you aren’t a fan of them. Funny how many people still ship you two.”
“Please don’t make me throw up. I haven’t dated a man in years, and I’m not planning to. And even if I was, it would 100% not be Steve Rogers.”
“Yeah I would not like to be with a walking flag. They are horrible.”
“Besides, what idiot would think that Rogers, the same guy that almost killed me. Oh I wish I could have lay it more on him.”
Yelena giggles. But then things got a bit sour.
“So there is no way to fix this ?”
Tony sighted. “No. Thanos destroyed the stones so no one could fix what he did.” As much as he hated to admit it, that was a legimitatly smart move from the Titan. “Thor killed the bastard, so at least they were avenged.”
“And from what I heard his generals died either on Space or Wakanda. So yeah....I’ll take that bit.”
“Yeah......that might not be all of them.”
Technically this information had been classified from Nebula and she warned him about telling anyone. But Yelena seemed....trustful.
“What do you mean ?”
“My friend Nebula. She was forced to work under Thanos, she and her sister Gamora were taken as kids and turtored to compliance. She told me that part of his force is still around, and that includes....his second in command.”
“What ?”
“Yep, the leader of the famous Black Order was on a mission. Nebs called her Supergiant. Said she’s extremely dangerous, a woman able to decimate armies on her own.”
With Thanos gone, it’s pretty sure she took over his army. While the rest of the galaxy is in chaos with the snap, Carol and any one with authority is looking for her. Nebula said she’s very hard to read so she has no idea what she could be after.
Nebula said she is different from what the others are. More cold, and practical, not an egotist like the other four, and she is stronger than the four combined.
Tony shuddered at the thought. The Black Order was tough. He and Peter were lucky they got with Maw by taking him by surprise. Bruce had a very hard time with Obsidian (who knows if the Hulk would have done better, his poor Hulkbuster suit), and Rogers and Romanoff would have been killed by the other two if Vision and Wanda had not interfered.
Tony looked down as he remembered the fallen android. Without the Mind Stone, there is no way to bring Vision back, he is dead, really dead.
It was a good thing that Wanda had been snapped, because he has no idea how she would have handled.
Unlike with Rogers, he and Wanda had managed to reach a neutral point, a cease on hostilities, in between the Civil War and Thanos. In her dates with Vision, the android finally made the witch see he had nothing to do with her parent's deaths, and she had let go of her hatred. They weren't friends, and they would probably never had gotten there, but at least they had let the past behind, not only for Vision but for their sakes, so they could move on.
But Vision is dead now, and Wanda, who was finally living life, had been snapped. So that progesss made nothing.
"Ah shit, well, you Avengers better deal with her."
"Is there even Avengers at this point ? With the loss of Vision and....Spiderman, only Rhodey and I remain. There is Bruce and Thor, but the latter is not in a state to fight, specially with his people. And there is no way in hell ill be in the same team as Rogers."
"Yeah that sounds like a tough one."
"Honestly there is much to do right now, I don't think there is any time for Avengers. For now we will have to trust the galaxy with Supergiant."
Three hours later, Tony felt it might be time to come back. Rhodey is probably not worried, since Friday must be updating him, but he still should check with his Honeybear.
"So.....what are you gonna do now ?"
"I don't know....search for work maybe. Melina worked as a scientist, but I ain't got that skills."
"Hm.....how about I offer you a job ?"
"Come again ?"
"A job."
"I don't think I have the brains to work on S.I."
"Brains are not all we look. Look....my former guard Happy he.....he was dusted, and so were many of the security personnel. Pepper and I are looking for a person that knows they way around security and fighting, as well as someone that can fight."
"Hm....a nice job for a Black Widow. I do need an income.....I have two conditions."
"Name them."
"First, I need help.....finding a new therapist. The one Melina and i were seeing was dusted."
"Lady you are asking the King of finding therapy that can be easily done, and the second."
"Invite me to another session of pouring out sorrows and we have a deal."
"Well said, Friday ?"
"I am sending the information to Ms. Potts, and I am contacting Dr. Maryl to see if she has any disponibility soon."
"We were very lucky that not only she survived, but is on a state to continue working. Well then Ms. Belova, where are you staying right now ?"
"A hotel two streets away. Was the best i could pay."
"Hm....I have empty space on the tower, do you wish to stay there better ?"
"If that is possible thanks......actually Mr. Stark, another request. Natasha is not to be told i am here."
"Got it, that will be no problem. She is on house arrest at the compound anyway."
"Great....I have no desire to see her."
"Good, and also, don't call me Mr. Stark, Tony is fine."
"Well then, please call me Yelena instead. Now I assume that crazy car outside was yours.....I get to have a ride in it ?"
"Yep, let's go."
Rhodey knew he had to count himself lucky.
For a miracle of the universe, all his family, his mother and sisters, survived the snap. The Rhodes were complete. His best friend was not only alive, but actually survived a stabbing by Thanos, and twenty two days stranded in space. Close friends like Pepper and Bruce made it out.
Yes he still lost people, Happy, Peter, Vision, and friends from the army. But he was getting threw.
What was worrying him was Tony.
He somehow blamed himself for Thanos defeating him, despite not being his fault. The loss of Peter had affected him so deeply, he knew that. Peter had been more than his metee, so full alive, and he died on Tony's arms. He can imagine that.
Not to mention, who is the first person that Tony sees after he arrives, Steve fucking Rogers, the man that almost killed him.
Rhodey still remembers when he was forced to allow the man back, after he was desperate for options. Tony and Peter were gone, Thor was supposedly dead, and Bruce was unable to transform.
It did not mean he liked it at all.
Months ago.
When Rogers had requested permission to land, Rhodey was pissed but he had no choice. He needed extra muscle.
But the man walked in the compound as he owned the place, like nothing happened.
He even greeted Rhodey like he was a casual friend, like he was not responsible for his injury, or like he hadn't almost killed his brother.
"Fuck you man !" Rhodey yelled. "You think all of it is forgiven ?! FUCK YOU ROGERS." He yelled. "I have not forgotten what you did to us after you decided Barnes was worth more than anyone. I did not forget about the tunnel you collapsed when you tried to stop the task force and T'Challa, nore of the bodies I saw on the relief efforts. I certainly did not forget of my injuries, which still hurt, thank you for asking. And I certainly did not forget about how you, ALMOST MURDER TONY IN SIBERIA, AFTER HE LEARNED YOU HID THE TRUTH FROM HIS PARENTS FOR TWO YEARS, AND THEN LEFT HIM BEHIND TO DIE, EVEN LYING TO T'CHALLA THAT HE WAS ALLRIGHT, I DID NOT FORGET ABOUT WAUTING FOR A MONTH FOR HIM TO WAKE UP, WONDERING IF THIS WOULD BE THE LAST I SAW OF HIM. SO DO NOT COME HERE AND GREET ME LIKE AN OLD FRIEND, GOT IT SOLDIER, NO SORRY, FORMER SOLDIER, OR DID YOU FORGET THE DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE ?" Rhodey panted after his rant.
Rogers however, had a stubborn look on his face, like Rhodey's words had no effect on him.
Romanoff was the same, though Wilson and Wanda were much more subdued and regretful. Wanda he was not surprised, he knew she and Tony had reached an understanding months ago, and she finally let go of that hatred. Vision had probably told her of this, hence why she spent more time with him than Rogers. Wilson looked a bit shocked, as if this is new information to him, and he was not happy about it.
"I did what I had to do, Bucky would have been killed if I did not stop Tony." The man said. "And that is all in the past now, Earth needs its heroes, the Avengers back."
"You are not an Avenger Rogers, not anymore, and to the world, you aren't a hero any longer. I would love to arrest you, right here, right now. But unlike you, I know that the safety of the world is more important than my agenda. Iron Man and Spiderman are missing, Thor might be dead, and Bruce can't turn into the Hulk. And while T'Challa and Wakanda already offered their help. I know it will need more than that. So....here you are, not because you are a grand hero, but because we need all the stops, that is all. Do not forget that."
Present day.
He had wanted to say more, but time was short, and Vision needed help fast.
Sadly, they still lost. At least now he could have nothing to do with Rogers.
Though said man clearly did not feel the same. For some reason he wanted to speak with Tony at all costs, something like rebuilding the Avengers together.
He is sure that Tony would not be in a team with Rogers, even if his life depended on it.
Still, those calls from the man that almost killed him were not helping Tony's fragile state, and he was concerned when he heard he went off on his own.
So imagine his suprise when Friday told him things took a turn for the better then.
Tony had met someone in the bar, and the two just clicked. In a way he did not remember Tony doing so in a long time.
It was hard to get Tony to open up, so for someone to do it on their first meeting....that person was special.
He got the information from Friday. Yelena Belova, former Black Widow, was working with her mother before she died on the snap, and Romanoff's lost sister, who clearly had no love for her.
He would have his doubts, but at least she was seeing a therapist (did Natasha ever even tried one ?) and seemed much more down to earth than the one he knew.
But of course, he was not 100% satisfied with Tony's choice of just hiring her.
"I don't know honeybear. Something inside me tells me....I can trust her."
"I....I don't know Tones, it is still to early for just hiring her and being buddy buddy with her....but if you feel this will help you, we can give it a shot."
Rhodey hopes it truly helps Tony, he needs to heal.
And who knows if all goes well.....maybe his best friend will be able to find a new love after Pepper....
Only time will tale.
Yelena has been in very different places before. But never in somewhere like this.
This apartment was the biggest she had ever seen.
“So S.I Let’s their employees live here without rent ?”
“Indeed.” Friday said. Yelena had almost immediately adapted to the AI, something that pleased her. Rarely did Boss’ friends (not counting the ones from ever) got used to her. As strange as it sounds Thor was the only other one that got used so fast. “As they are already helping the company threw work, there is no reason to charge them.”
“Yeah that makes sense. And.......holly shit that is the biggest shower I’ve ever seen !”
She took some moments to continue looking over the apartment.
“So no one can enter without me knowing.”
“Correct. Unless you share it with someone, any person must have your permission to enter.”
“Nice.” She’s used to sleeping on guard, but now maybe she can relax.
“Speaking off, Boss is asking if he can enter.”
“Yeah let him in.”
Tony came in soon after.
“Hey, so how’s everything ?”
“This place is crazy. I didn’t know a shower could be so big, I’m spending all night there.”
“Hehe, well have fun. Anway, I came here to tell you that you start tomorrow. I need a guard while I make an interview.”
“Got it.”
“I also came to drop you this, your S.I identifications, will allow you in the building when you please. We have a restaurant at floor 14, where presenting this will give you discounts and even free meals.”
“Thanks.” She said grabbing her card.
“Oh and......if you get a visit from Rhodey and Pepper.....don’t let them intimidate you, they are pretty protective, specially after Siberia.”
“O....k ?”
She is not sure what to except when talking to a US Colonel and a powerful CEO.
“Well if that’s it. Then I’ll be off to bed. See you around Yelena.”
“Yeah see you around. And thanks for the job. I thought I was done after Melina died but....well thanks for the second chance.”
“It’s nothing.....half of the universe died....but the other half, well we got a second chance, and I think we need to use it.”
He gave her a smile and left.
Yelena could not help but be fascinated by the man. Something she had never felt before.
Her mind had a lot of feelings and thoughts. But she’s too tired for that right now.
She’ll face the, eventually, but for now, it’s only her and that sweet shower.