Enchanted || b.barnes

chapter one; hushed opinions

The whole flight consisted of Stark talking on his phone and drinking. He talked and drank and mostly talked, occasionally putting his glass down to shift his position. Other than that, that was all. He didn't ask her about her powers anymore. "That's Cap's job," he'd told her when she asked. "My job was to find Cap a little apology present."

"In the form of a 21-year-old girl with pain powers?" She let out a snort of derision. "Stark, what did you do to Captain America that made you have to recruit a new Avenger for him?"

Stark put his glass down. "It was Christmas, and I was drunk. Also, don't ever refer to him as Captain America unless you're mocking him. It's weird."

"Will I be allowed to mock him?"

"Sure. Look, here's something for you to think about and leave me in peace: All the Avengers have something to fight for. Wanda- or Scarlet Witch, since you're unfamiliar- is avenging her brother's death. What are you avenging?"

With that Stark returned his attention to his mobile, and Carine was left with her own thoughts. What am I fighting for? My Master's? She laughed a little to herself, then got serious again. She was reminded of her past, what she had to do and what she couldn't do. Where she failed, and the rare times when she didn't. She thought of the parents she never knew and the freedom she never had. No, she thought. Her voice sounded more determined and headstrong in her mind. I'm avenging myself.

The New Avengers Facility was modern, sleek and alarmingly pristine, just like Carine imagined it. The moment she stepped out of Stark's car a wave of cool air hit her as someone walked through the sliding glass doors.

"Happy Christmas, Cap," Stark said, nodding at his friend.

"You're two months late," Cap rolled his eyes, then turned his attention to Carine. "I'm Steve. Welcome to the Facility."

Carine offered a smile and introduced herself. "Thank you. My name is Carine Cadell."

Tony snorted. "Why so formal, Carrie? What happened to 'I'll make you feel pain with my magic fingers'?"

Carine shifted her weight so that she was standing evenly on both legs. She stared pointedly at Stark, green eyes piercing. She could've fired back at Stark, but she opted for silence. She wasn't very willing to argue with someone who'd spent the whole flight draining a bottle of alcohol.

Steve chuckled a little, gesturing for both of them to follow him into the building. "You remind me of Bucky," he said quietly as they stepped through the sliding doors, thinking Carine couldn't hear.

"Who's Bucky?"

"You'll see soon," Stark interjected before Steve could reply. "But I don't think someone like you would enjoy meeting grumpy metal arm man."

The three of them went up some stairs and down a hallway, went through a door, then emerged into another hallway with steps leading up into some kind of loft. Natasha Romanoff was seated on one of the sofas, flicking through channels on the massive TV. She looked bored but pensive, frowning ever so slightly at the bright screen.

"Romanoff," Stark said loudly, by way of greeting. Natasha didn't look over, but she answered him nonetheless.

"Morning. Where's the kid?"

"Right here," Steve replied, stepping aside to reveal Carine. Natasha finally looked over, and her eyes widened. "Tony, you said she was 'a killing machine'."

Carine inhaled sharply. She was well aware of what she could do but no one, no one, had ever called her a killing machine. Did she use too much on Stark? Thoughts bounced around in her mind, most of them consisting of worst-case scenarios. Worst-case scenarios that she was the cause of. Carine hated being the cause of things, no matter what the situation. She could've cured cancer, and she wouldn't want the credit to go to her.

"I did say she was painful," Stark corrected, walking to the kitchen, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I didn't say she'll kill you, but she is powerful. Don't touch her," he added as an afterthought. He grabbed a glass cup with the Avengers symbol printed on it and filled the glass with water. Talk about serious branding, Carine thought.

Natasha completely ignored Stark's warning and strode over to Carine,  proceeding to land a solid kick to her abdomen. Carine doubled over in pain, but as she glared at Natasha through her hair, a stabbing pain filled her opponent. Natasha gasped and fell to her knees wincing. The stabbing knives didn't leave her alone until Carine lifted her gaze seconds later.

Stark casually took a sip from his drink and gestured towards Natasha, who was slowly standing up while grimacing. "I warned you."

The rest of the team, as Carine noticed, was in the room by then. They had all come running when they heard Natasha fall down. The walls of the Facility were tragically thin, allowing any sound at all to be heard.

"She's definitely coming with us to Vienna," Steve announced, his face bearing a shocked expression. When he noticed Carine's confused frown, he went on to explain the Sokovian Accords. "We'll be accompanying Natasha while she signs them. Y'know, for security reasons," he said, rather coldly.

Carine couldn't help but wonder why the government was so desperate to keep them in check. Any destruction they might've caused was for the greater good to her. But there was something even bigger shouting to be heard at the back of her mind- they saved people and entire countries, but at what cost? Sokovia was almost completely destroyed when they were dealing with the Ultron Offensive. To Carine, signing those Accords didn't seem like a bad thing at all.

A/N: heyy it's me the author! okay i know the chapters have been short so far but they will get longer and longer in time. battle scenes are tricky, but i'm going to see civil war for a fourth time tomorrow so that ought'a help :)