Connections

37: Ultron

"Get Bruce out of here." I said quietly. It was a threat to have him here. If he got in the wrong mood then Hulk would come out and we'd all be doomed. Nat quickly grabbed Bruce, bringing him up the stairs.

One by one the Avengers took down the Iron Legion. There was just one left. Nat and I both shot at it in our different positions. Our guns didn't do much against a Stark creation however. Steve quickly threw his shield towards it, slicing it before it fell to the ground.

I leaned back down, resting my head against the bar. Glass shattered around me. I could feel some of the pieces sticking to my legs. Tony quickly came behind the bar, kneeling down and grabbing me.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Physically yes. Mentally no." I stated as he helped me up. He stared at me concerningly as we all looked around. Ultron was gone.

We stood there for a few minutes trying to compose ourselves. Looking around the damage done to the room. I just looked out the window staring out into the city. I didn't plan on my one night of fun turning into a remembrance of a past I wanted to forget.

I took a deep breath as Tony looked at his destroyed Iron Legion. Everyone just stood silently as he stood back up. Thinking of what to do next. Steve just looked angry. His breathing picking up. He looked over at me, his eyes full of fire before looking back at Tony.

"How'd he get that video, Stark?" Steve asked. I took in a deep breath as I just stared at the two of them. Tony just stood there, biting on his lip. Looking like he was trying to find the right answer.

"Tony!"

"Steve, don't." I said quietly. I didn't want them fighting.

Tony just sighed before looking around at everyone. "When we were looking for the tesseract and I hacked into Shield's servers. I found it with all the other deeply hidden shit Fury had."

"Why do you still have it, Tony?" I asked. I felt the shame washing over me all over again. However, I was just more disappointed in Tony.

"I pulled it out along with every file I could find on you, right before Shield fell. Glad I did since Miss Double Agent leaked everything Shield and Hydra had out into the world." Tony sighed and turned to me. I could see the remorseful look he held. I just shook my head and sighed.

"Yeah, what good did that do now, Tony?" Steve asked condescendingly.

"Look I didn't plan on my tech going against me." Tony yelled.

"Enough!" I yelled stepped between the two of them, "Now is not the time."

The room fell silent again, as Steve and Tony just stared at each other. My concern wasn't everyone seeing my shameful past. My concern was Ultron. It needed to be everyone else too.

"Why did Ultron call Layla out specifically?" Thor asked concerned. Everyone just looked at each other. I took a deep breath as everyone looked at me.

"I may not be the strongest Avenger." I said quietly, "However, you all have made mistakes saving the world. I've made them going against it as well. It makes me a worse threat then anybody because I played both sides."

"We don't judge you for your past, Layla." Clint said.

"No, but Ultron does." I sighed. The room fell silent once more. I crossed my hands over my chest. My anger was just pushing through at this point. I felt Steve rub my back to try to comfort me, however it wasn't working. "So what now?"

"Now?" Tony asked as he walked around the room, "For you? Going back to the compound and staying there."

"Tony-"

"No. Ultron's got a huge target on you."

"Yeah and he's got it on all of you too."

"You do what you have to when protecting ones you care about. Ultron knows that and will find a way to use it." Tony said.

"Please when has that stopped me before?" Arguing back. Our voices began to talk over each other.

"Shall watch exhibit A again?"

"Wouldn't have had to if you didn't keep it."

"Hey, I saved your ass from all your dirty little secrets leaking out into the world."

"Oh please! The only thing you saved-"

"Layla!" Steve spoke out. Cutting me off from saying something I was going to regret. I took a deep breath. Tony kept his usual fatherly glare onto me as I turned to Steve. "Tony's right." He said, crossing his arms over his chest. "That something he's already holding over you. It'll be better if you stay back and stay low."

I let out a deep sigh as I looked over at the two of them. I hated that once again I was missing out on a fight. Tony came up to me and place his arm on my shoulders. A thin smile on his face.

"See, we're getting a long now. So you don't have to worry about us." He said.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. "Fine, you win Tony."

"Ahh my favorite words."