The Silver Shadow

Who is That... Really?

The elevator doors dinged open as it reached its stop. A blond-haired super soldier and two redheads stepped off onto the 84th floor.

"What does Fury want this time?" the blond said as they started down the hallway. The light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving perfect views of New York City below. The Avenger's Tower was one of the tallest buildings, making any other below 60 stories appear tiny in comparison.

"Well, you know him; he doesn't say until precisely when he wants to," one of the redheads responded.

"I'm sure he has a good reason this time. It's probably dangerous to let us know beforehand," the other replied.

"Nat, he always does it. It's better to have some idea of what we're going to be facing before we go. What if he's upset, we'd want to brace ourselves, no?" the blond fought back. "I agree," said the first.

"Let's just get this over with," Nat said, "I'd rather be done with this quickly and move on, especially if he's mad".

The three had reached the end of the hallway. Glass double doors separated them from a conference room where some of their companions were already waiting. The blond super-soldier respectfully held the door open for the women as they walked inside. They sat down at the large oak table and started talking with each other.

"Hey Tony", the blond said, "Any idea what Fury wants."

"None," Tony replied, "It's strange 'cause he usually tells someone. Are you sure you're not practicing your secret-keeping, Steve? Heaven knows that you need to work on that."

"Tony!" A man with brown hair and glasses interjected. He had been dealing with Tony for years and was tired of his antics and his feud with Steve. In his opinion, Tony's anger for his father was misplaced, but Steve should realize that Tony was not his father and should be treated as much.

"Stay out of this Banner," Tony yelled, temper obviously flared. It wasn't normal for Fury to not tell them at least something about what they were going to be talking about. The absence of information had gotten tempers flared. 

"Boys, Boys," Nat said, she had her goal on de-escalating the situation, "there he is."
Director Fury appeared in view through the door, almost there. All of the adults in the room sat up straight and prepared for whatever Fury had in store for them today. There would be no more arguing. He opened the doors and walked to the front of the room. He set something on the table, and it projected a case onto the screen. Thick case files were passed around. A quick glance inside, and they were filled with unsolved murders of significant political icons and celebrities.

"Ladies and gentlemen, does anyone have any idea who this is?" He began
Most of the Avengers shook their heads. Only Natasha and a man with a metal arm nodded in agreement. The rest were stumped.

"That's the Silver Shadow," the metal-armed man replied. The tone in his voice was weaker than usual. He knew who they were, personally. There was more to his story than he had ever let on to.

"That was a rhetorical question, Sergeant Barnes, but yes, that is the Silver Shadow."

"Um, who exactly are they?" Tony objected, "Really."

"That's the thing, not many people know. She managed to stay undetected and unidentified for decades. Most people, including myself until recently, thought she didn't exist. We don't know much else." Fury replied, "Unless someone in this room knows a little more than I do, which is unlikely...."

"That's y/n y/l/n. Y/n was inducted into the KGB way before WWII. She was the inspiration to form the Red Room program. They saw the value in a force of female assassins after she took down... Well, let's just say that without her, history would have played out very differently," Natasha informed the group. It wasn't just that she knew your history. You were a part of her history.

"She was involved in the Russian Revolution. It was her that played a major role in Rasputin's assassination. Without her help, the Soviet Union would never have been formed", Bucky added. He was involved too. Although the Winter Soldier was not him, he was the Winter Soldier. Throughout the KGB and Hydra, you were a legend. No one really knew you. But everyone knew something about what you had done for your fellow comrades. People strove to be like you.

What no one knew about you was that you were not loyal to anyone—especially not Russia or the United States. Your hand in political events was for your own benefit. You had gotten paid handsomely for Rasputin's murder. That was why you had intervened. Over the years, you had gotten good at not letting people get to know too much about you or who you killed for. That was what made you feard. No alliances meant no rules, which made the world your oyster. Anyone could be a target.
   
"If that's true, Buck, then she would have to be at least a hundred and twenty years old!" Steve said. He was shocked. Previously, only he and Bucky were thought to have been over a hundred and in the field. It was a mystery that neither of them had a reasonable solution to. "Are you sure she's not just, you know, Dead?"
   
"That's what everyone in the intelligence community has thought for the past 30 years. Y/l/n has been meticulous to stay underground. Until now." Fury added. "Yesterday, a prisoner train on it's way to the Raft was boarded. Security has identified the hijacker as y/n y/l/n, the Silver Shadow. She killed two SWAT guards until the rest of the security detail was alerted to her presence. She was ambushed but escaped. No one has been able to locate her since."
   
"What was on that train that she may have been targeting?" Natasha asked.
   
"Nothing valuable. A few weapons, low-level prisoners. Supplies. There was only one thing on that train that we have reason to believe she was after".
   
"Well, what is it?" a chorus cried.
   
Director Fury took a deep breath, "Loki was on that train.""No!"

"Fuck"

"When something bad happens, why does it always have to be Loki?" Tony asked. Even though Thor had proven to everyone that Loki had been under mind control during the New York events, Tony had yet to forgive him. He and Barton were the most affected out of everyone and had no hurry to forget what was done.

"Has Loki been placed on the Raft yet?" Barton asked, "We really don't want him to get in the way now that we have a lead on the Shadow."

"But are we sure that the Raft is even the best place for him? I mean, y/n probably knew where that train was headed." Wanda had made a good point. You knew where that train was headed. Or at least you had a good idea where.

"Maximoff, you have a point," Fury agreed. The rest added head nods and 'yeahs'. "I'll have Loki transferred. Rodgers, Maximoff, I want you to escort Loki personally to ensure that y/l/n doesn't hop on again." Steve and Wanda made eye contact and nodded in agreement. The rest of you, I need you to start looking for the Shadow. She has surfaced and can not be allowed to disappear again. This may be our only chance to catch her for the next ten years. Understood?" Fury's tone had risen. Bringing you in after a hundred years would cement his name into not just his country's intelligence operation but the entire world's.

"Understood, Sir," Steve said.

"Alright ladies, you ready?" Natasha smirked. She knew that this wasn't going to be easy, but she was prepared.

Fury walked out of the conference room, and with a swish of his leather tailcoat, he was halfway down the hallway and then gone.

"Let's get going then."