Way Walker Chronicles: Avengers
Along Came a Spider
3rd Person
The Avengers looked down at their captive intruder. Physically she wasn’t that impressive, just a short, slightly chubby woman in flannel pajama pants covered in comic-book onomatopoeia bursts, topped with an oversized white tee bearing the legend that made them all so anxious and irritable.
No, the girl before them wasn’t strong or powerful-looking, and hadn’t even fought back when Clint insisted that she be restrained for questioning. But there was something of a quiet potency in her eyes as she docilely sat in the steel-frame bar chair, being duct-taped to it. Something about her that sent the message, “I’ll allow this for your peace of mind, because it doesn’t really make a difference to me.” There was no fear, no nervousness, and most irritating to Tony, no awe.
Natasha was the first to interrogate her, in hopes another woman could get more out of her. The girl didn’t appear to be listening, let alone answering any questions. Telling the male heroes to back away to relieve tension did yield an answer, as Black widow tried for sisterly.
“We’re alone now, and I promise to keep your confidence. Just tell me something I can use to convince the others that you’re harmless.”
“I’m not harmless, though.” The girl’s mellow voice was a low, almost smoky alto. “Which would be why I’m keeping quiet. I have knowledge that could destroy this team, knowledge they’re sure to continue asking for. So just to forestall the inevitable I’ll give you an example of what I mean, so you can go tell them not to poke the tiger.”
“We’ll see. I’m not sure Tony or Bruce has ever turned down knowledge, and I’m not easily impressed.”
“I’m well aware of the inability of your teammates to recognize Monkey’s Paw scenarios, as well as your own unflappable nature.”
“So you know that this had better be good.”
“This will certainly be effective, but it’s ambiguous weather or not you’d call it ‘good’. The man known as Winter Soldier, your lover, disappeared into the night without a word to you, or to your knowledge, anyone. It left you bitter, leading to your life as an assassin.”
“Anyone with access to my dossier would know that.” The red-headed spy’s voice was cold with anger, as she leaned on the chair arms, pushing her face close to the still-bound source of her ire. “So far, all you’ve told me is that S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to go plug a few leaks.”
“I’m not done, yet. That was just a probe to see if you still remembered him. The real mind blower is this: Winter Soldier is alive. And he isn’t who you think he is; he never was.”
“Then who was he, hmm?”
“You sure you want to know?” Seeing Black Widow’s look, she hastily continued. “Once upon a time, he was James Buchanan Barnes.”