Many Serpents
Glancing up as SHIELD finally arrived to ‘help’ Toni took in the faces of the avengers, bruises, cuts, and minor burns, marred conflicted and somewhat calculating facial expressions.
This was going to be fun.
--------
“Don’t ask.”
Don’t ask? Winter asked in disbelief Did she really just say that? Toni scared a HYDRA agent so badly he looked ready to cry, then almost completely decapitated him and they weren’t supposed to ask????
I don’t know Winter, but we should at least wait a bit. I mean she did just eliminate HYDRA. James sighed, he was too exhausted for this. So much had happened in so little time.
Steve, stubborn as always was the first to speak “Really Toni? Don’t ask? You just MURDERED someone you have a lot to explain.”
Widow shifted, rocking back onto her heels in what would have been a nonchalant gesture if they couldn’t see the way she was preparing to take a defensive position “What about the glowing? Why don’t you explain that while you’re at it.”
“Don’t say anything please. I’ll explain everything later.” Toni sighed, seeing as she planned to anyway and the team could be quite stubborn. “You guys need medical attention, after you are all patched up I’ll tell you.”
The helicopters landed softly in between the battered team and the still-smoldering remains of the former HYDRA base.
Three teams of shield agents drop to the ground softly and begin to sweep the wreckage as Fury, with his dark trench coat flapping behind him, giving him the appearance of an oversized, angry, and dramatic bat.
Coulson walked slightly faster than normal, looking as if he was just taking a brisk stroll in a park. He was seemingly relaxed. But his shoulders, which were drawn tight, gave away how guarded he was.
Like a switch was flipped Toni dropped her tense fighting posture, looking battle weary and deceptively defenseless, if they had not just seen her take down Pierce he would have believed her exhaustion was genuine.
SHIELD’S medical team brushed past a fuming Fury and a calculating Coulson and began to check over the team. Toni waved them off, saying she needed to head back to the tower and would get medical from JARVIS, saying something about how Pepper would kill her for missing her board meeting.
James and Winter watched as she stepped into her suit and launched herself into the sky, as he watched her the reality of the events hit him like a freight train (I'm so sorry). Toni wasn’t what she seemed, he had kissed Medusa, and Medusa was probably going to be missing a while. They refused to believe that she was dead, she had survived so much and always came back to him, she HAD to be alive.
The avengers boarded the plane in silence, each of us lost in thought of what was to come and what we had learned. There wasn't a person on board who wasn’t consumed in their thoughts.
-----------------
“Hey J?” She asked.
“Yes sir?” his lilting accent was enough to help calm her down.
“Start compiling the video, we are in for a lot of explaining.”
“Right away sir.”
The Avengers gathered on the main floor.
Steve dropped himself in the middle of the couch, he had a bandage around his arm to keep him from reopening the bullet wound.
Natasha settled on one of the massive beanbags, her eyes scanned the entire room, evaluating her escape routes, weapons, and potential threats.
Clint sat on the floor at her feet, his head leaning back resting on her knees.
James and Winter settled in their favorite chair, they were both equally in control depending on how this went they would adapt, but they hoped they wouldn’t have to resort to their training. They clenched and unclenched their hands, wishing for the dagger back, but they had left it lodged in the door lock when they had left the base.
The elevator doors opened with a slow whoosh of air.
“..... ready?”
“Yes ... efficient method ... available.”
“… good...”
Everyone shifted anxiously as Toni round the corner, she smiled at them.
James and Winter had never seen this smile, and they never wanted to see it again.
It was worn down and sad. The pain lingered in the corner of her eyes and her shoulders were slumped as if prepared for a rejection, or even a violent attack that she seemed to look like she was unwilling to resist.
She took a deep breath and settled onto the other couch, the most vulnerable position in the room, as she crossed her legs she began. “I know you have a lot of questions, I will answer as many as I can but I request that you don’t interrupt or do anything sudden.”
At the inquisitive sound from Clint and the look Natasha sent her she explained “I won’t do anything in my defense but JARVIS might… and I don’t want anyone to experience his wrath.”
That earned her a nod and the widow seemed, keyword, seemed to relax a little.
JARVIS’ voice floated into the room “sir, if I may…”
“Go ahead J.”
The large screen they had watched the news on just under 2 days ago slid out of the ceiling and flared to life.
Many Serpents
Toni appeared on the screen, she was leaning up against one of her lab tables holding up her blood-splattered t-shirt with her teeth as she wrapped a bandage around her midsection.
“Sir!” JARVIS’s urgent and loud voice causes everyone to tense. On the screen, Toni raises one eyebrow.
Spitting out the shirt she says “Yes, JARVIS?”
“I believe I have found a few matches for the HELL FROZE OVER protocol.”
Toni immediately straightens and her holograms flicker, shifting slightly until they form what looks like a facial recognition program. “Show me.” the cautious hope in her voice makes James and Winter’s chest clench.
Three faces appear on the screen.
“I have a match up to the 99th percentile on three people, we have expanded the search parameters to the dead, presumed dead, MIA, and a few other categories.”
A tense face with sharp grey eyes rimmed with black paint, and tangled hair appears on the screen, “this is the best rendition of all footage we have of The Winter Soldier” Jarvis says.
--------
James and Winter flinch, was that what they had really looked like?
--------
“Due to the bad paint job,"
-------
Clint snorted
------
“I was unable to come up with a definitive answer but I managed to narrow it down to 3 people.” JARVIS continues. “First we have a supposed Russian civilian, he holds large weapon supplies and could have picked up a few things to survive.”
“Close but that’s not him.”
“Sir, are you certain?”
“Yep,” she popped the p “The Winter Soldier didn’t go into the business willingly, this guy did.”
“Next we have a CIA agent and their partner that went MIA during an undercover mission back in 03.”
“Yikes, no, next one J.”
“Believed to have died in 1945, James “Bucky” Buchanan Barnes.”
“Well shit.”
3 Weeks After Rushman AKA Romanov Began
Sitting in her penthouse looking out over the city Toni turned away in a classic scheming villain pose.
“How’s the spider doing?” She says, her tone with a teasing lilt.
“She is trying to break in again sir.” JARVIS replied, “she is progressing as expected of Black Widow of her caliber but she is still to bypass the first level of security.”
Toni pinches her brow and sighs.
“Should we make it easier for her?”
“No. If she really is our little spider she will be able to pass level one. Can I see what she’s doing?”
A security camera feed plays out of the projector in her small watch.
The widow hangs upside down on the underside of one of the many open-air walkways in the main Stark Industries building, this one clearly leading to Toni’s office.
Toni’s brow creases “She knows those aren’t wires... right?”
------
Natasha raises her eyebrow and turns to look at Toni who holds up an open palm and nods towards the screen.
-------
“I believe not.”
“Distract her. I'd rather she doesn’t end up touching the poison gas piping.”
-------
Natasha’s head whipped to face Toni so fast it was almost comical.
Rolling her eyes she put a finger to her lips and pointed towards the screen.
--------
“We made it small for a reason, the amount will only knock her out not kill her and we have cures.”
Toni makes an exasperated sound “JARVIS….”
A pause.
“Miss Rushman-Romanov has been requested by you to fetch Ms. Potts.”
Extremis
Toni stands next to one of her work tables, holding a needle to her arm “Hey Jarv?”
“Yes sir?”
“You know I love you right?” She presses the needle into her arm.
“I am aware sir, I love you too.”
Toni injects the liquid and drops to the floor.
“Sir!” JARVIS cried, the amount of fear in his voice reflected what all the avengers were feeling.
--------------
James and Winter’s arms were digging into the armrests.
Steve stared at the screen in open-mouthed horror.
The widow’s brow furrowed.
Clint had drawn his legs to his chest, hugging himself he rests his chin on his knee, transfixed.
--------------
An orange glow starts emanating out of her arm from the injection site, like rivers of fire it flowed through her body. Her chest surrounding her arch reactor glowed brightest.
She snapped her eyes open, they swirled in hues of red and gold holding an all-consuming fire. A disturbingly beautiful promise of hell fire.
Carefully she lifted her hand, which was just barely still glowing, and reached for the table ledge to help pull herself off of the floor.
The groaning sound of metal rang through the rooms. Pulling her hand away, clear indents were now embedded in the table with cracks emanating out in all directions.
Placing her hand back on the floor she watched as the metal melted into a swirling liquid, cherry reds, deep oranges, and streaks of glowing white pooled together around her fingers.
“J,” she says carefully, her tone forcefully cheerful “aren’t these floors made from the second strongest element?”
“Yes sir.”
“Okay then… now we have more time to develop the cure for palladium poisoning and when I’m out... I will be safer.”
“Sir… if you scare me like that again I will kill you.”
---------
Toni had always had incredible puppy dog eyes. Her dark brown eyes reflected the sunlight giving them an ethereal warmth while the flecks of black among the dark brown held mystery, mischief, and a secret intelligence that was beyond understanding.
She could get whatever she wanted, unless it was Howard, from anyone.
She had first used them on Clint when he had taken her coffee, within seconds he had given her the coffee and ran to make her more.
Steve had been trying to get her to go to medical (which she refused to do because Extremis had to stay a secret) he lasted for about 30 seconds before he gave up and made her promise to rest after wrapping her in a blanket and leaving her in the penthouse.
Once Natasha had caved under them too, allowing Toni to skip out on training.
The eyes had been used on Banner to do an incredibly stupid lab experiment for shits and giggles. She had used it on the hulk to calm him down after battles.
She had used it on Thor to convince him to stop being so loud.
She had used them on Sam, Rhodey, and Pepper to get out of various things involving the military, the government, or doctors.
When James had been subjected to them he did anything she asked in a heartbeat, she looked so sad… he couldn’t say no.
Of course, Winter had called him weak afterward.
When Winter was learning about the modern era (James had done some with Rogers so it had been his turn to take the reigns) he had refused to go out of the tower. As soon as she had stuck out her lip and crossed her arms, he immediately gave up resisting and promised to protect her.
------------
Even though Toni's eyes looked like glowing crimson voids her puppy dog eyes still had the same effect. Just like the floor, all resistance from JARVIS melted.
Speaking in a slightly petulant tone she said “I’m sorry Jarvis. Is it slightly better if you are now in my head and I don’t need to worry about me going off the radar?”
JARVIS gave a long-suffering drawn-out sigh “Sir...”
Recovery of the Winter Soldier and James Buchanan Barnes
“Jarvis they finally fucking found him!”
“They did, congratulations sir, now we can begin the deconstruction of HYDRA,” JARVIS said smoothly.
Despite the tears rolling down her face, Toni giggled.
“Also leak some information to local governments, we don’t want to be the sole power behind this, that would scare people.”
“Has SHIELD learned the truth about Howard’s death?” Toni instantly said sobering despite her joy still emanating.
“Affirmative. This will be a good test for them.”
Toni hummed, “yeah, I’ve already forgiven Barnes. I forgave him years ago, but its important SHIELD sees me as someone who holds a grudge so we have to keep up the act.”
“When he comes to the tower I will ensure there are no triggers.”
“Good, it's the least we can do. I mean, he saved my life when he killed Howard. Maria was a casualty and I can understand that they are after all incredibly difficult to prevent and when brainwashed to feel nothing, casualties do not matter. ”
Toni paused as if contemplating something. “Besides, only the strongest survive in our world. Giglio Vermiglio (Vermillion Lily) was deadly when active but mom gave that up as soon as she married Howard.”
-------
If Natasha or Clint recognized the name they gave no reaction, but James and Winter recognized that name, she had a habit of leaving lilies that had been dipped in the blood of the dead.
---------
Day 3 of Barnes and Winter in The Avengers Tower
“Sir, should we inform him of who you are?”
“No,” Toni sighed. “He’s too confused. Winter and James are both Rusty but they aren’t ready to talk to each other. How are they going to talk to someone who knew them but couldn’t save them fast enough? Is one of the reasons they have blood on their hands?”
“Sir he could use a friend and so could you, and I mean a friend that knows who you are. Besides you might need help with HYDRA.”
Toni shook her head. “We are almost done with rigging bases and killing off higher-ups. He needs to heal, remember how I was after Afghanistan?”
“Yes sir.”
“He’s like that but worse, he was never trained to withstand torture like I was. Plus he was tortured for much longer and he feels incredibly guilty. I promise I will tell him but I’m not even sure if I’m ready. I mean it’s pretty messed up to love the guy who technically killed your parents right?”
“As long as he makes you happy that’s all that matters sir.”
“As long as he is safe, I am happy. You remember the PERSEUS Protocol right?”
“Yes sir, the PERSEUS Protocol is; In the event that Iron Maiden, Antonia 'Toni" Stark AKA Medusa should become incapacitated by any means ensure the safety and happiness of:”
--------
Wait...
WHAT!?
-------
“The War Machine Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes,”
“Virginia “Pepper” Potts,”
“A Black Widow Natasha “Little Spider” Romanov,”
“James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes and The Winter Soldier “Winter” both known as “Rusty” using any means necessary.”
“Additional commands, eliminate all threats to the safety of the planet as well as ensure the Avengers can continue to operate without issue.”
Toni smiled.
48 hours ago
“Sir we have a problem” JARVIS’s voice echoed through a darkened room.
“Jarv it's 1 in the morning whatever problem there is it can wait,” Toni grumbled sleepily.
“It’s about the command words for the Winter Soldier.”
---------
The Avengers tense.
James and Winter grip the chair so tight that they ended up snapping the reinforced frame.
---------
A soft glow filled the room as Toni hurled herself out of bed.
“What did they do this time?” she snarled.
“Miles Anderson is the last surviving hydra agent other than Pierce to have read the book before it was collected by an anonymous assassin/stealth operative AKA you, dropped off anonymously at the tower, and destroyed.”
“Okay…”
“Additionally, he also has the knowledge of the book, which you destroyed immediately due to the fact it was the second set of command words that were designed as a fall safe in case the original 10-word sequence was ineffective to maintain the control level desired for the Winter Soldier.”
---------
Everyone froze at that.
Another.
Set.
Of.
Words.
A. FAILSAFE.
It felt like James and WInter had been put through the chair and locked in the cryo pod simultaneously.
They couldn’t look away.
----------
“Okay, and where is he?” Toni asked as she steps into the elevator.
“As you know he’s been off the radar for the last 3 months or surrounded by civilians that would make it impossible to eliminate him without casualties.”
Steps into the lab “I am aware J, where is he?”
“He arrived back in New York...”
Toni’s eyes narrow at JARVIS’s hesitation.
“He just made brief contact, he is going to meet with Alexander Pierce and a few other high ranks this morning, it seems he is going to inform them of these override words.”
Toni stood still, looking down at a small bracelet on her wrist, and tilted her head “he’s going to meet them in his office, isn’t he? He’s too cocky to take any precautions, he’s ambitious but relatively stupid when it comes to common sense and taking threats seriously.”
“Correct. If I may sir.” Toni looks up from her bracelet “may I recommend your signature poison?”
The smile on Toni's face is was sharklike and eerie. “That would be appropriate, wouldn’t it? The most painful way to die other than being burned alive”
“and why aren’t we burning him alive?” Jarvis sounds like a pouting child.
Toni sighs and smiles sadly “Jarvis, I can't get the smell of burning flesh out of my nose ever since Afghanistan, I’m never doing that unless I am desperate.”
“I’m sorry sir, I forgot”
Toni smiles brightly. “Jarvis you don’t need to apologize, I never mentioned it, how were you supposed to know?”
A silence “I suppose you’re right.”
“I always am.”
“Good luck hunting, I will monitor the tower in your absence.”
They watched as the delicate bracelet made a soft click sound.
Metal began flowing out of it.
Twining up her arms and across her chest like rapidly growing tree roots.
Armored boots crawled up her legs as a skirt swirled down slowing down as it came to rest around her legs.
As the mask closed over her face and the hood was pulled up, Medusa dissolved into the shadows.
--------
"So... any questions?"