Just as they got 15 minutes away, Tony heard the explosion, and he glanced in the rear view mirror, knowing it was the compound. They managed to give themselves a head start before the jet took off, and seconds later the compound was gone. It stung to know that their home, their safe place was gone, but everyone was out and no casualties.
What hurt more, was that three of their own had left with Trix. Tony didn't know what she had done, to get them on her side, and he was angry that Bruce of all people, walked away.
'Whats the plan now?..'.. Ross asked from the seat next to him.
'Everyone head to the tower, and we'll go from there..'.. Tony tells him, just as his phone rang and he answered, putting it on speaker... 'Rogers..'
'Tony, is there any chance of Friday tracing Buck, Barton or Banner? We need to know where they went..'... Steves voice echoed in the car.
'She's already on it Rogers..'.. Tony sighed... 'We need the space brothers back right now, their watcher guy might know where she's going with them..'
'If you know how to get in touch with them, great..'..
'Yeah, currently holding shit together here Rogers, you know, since our home just got destroyed and our team is scattered..'.. Tony snapped at him.
'I know Tony, we all do. We're all still processing the last 48 hours, and it's been a lot..'..
'How's the rest doing?..'.. Tony asked, glancing to the car behind where Steve was driving with Pietro, and Sam. Nat was in the car behind them, with Wanda and Vision.
'Nat is quiet, and angry, not that I blame her..'.. Sam's voice came through... 'Her best friend and boyfriend just walked away with another woman, so what do you think?..'
'I think we only got half the story with Trix. She said Daisy would be in touch, but haven't heard anything yet, Friday is working overtime tracking signals, and anything related to Hydra, Skrulls..'.. Tony scoffed... 'Vampires and Werewolves, while also running facial on our dropouts..'
'Maybe there's a reason those three went with her..'.. Pietro said, and Tony glared at his phone as he drove.
'Please enlighten us..'.. He snarked, shaking his head.
'Well, Cap here went to see her last night, right?..'.. Tony heard Steve mumble at Pietros question... 'But what if maybe he was too late?..'
That made Tony pause in his mental ranting about the whole situation... 'You think she screwed one of the three? Barton wouldn't..'.. Well, he hoped Barton wouldn't do that, he was married with a family after all... 'And Bruce, didn't she think that he was her dad all this time? I mean, he is with Romanoff as well..'
'So you think Buck?..'.. Steve asked, and Tony thought it over.
'You think he would?..'.. Tony glanced to Ross, seeing thean confused about the conversation they were having.
'I mean, he said himself, he understands what she's doing, and he was guarding her..'.. Pietro tells them.
'He shot her in the back of the head..'.. Sam said.
'Maybe she told him to, I mean, him and Barton have been whispering this morning and stuck close to her. What if he's got control over her now?..'.. Pietro had a point.
'Ok, let's say Barnes does have control over her, doesn't explain the other two though..'.. Tony took the turning back into the city, the other two cars behind following him.
'Let me add Nat and the others into this call, hang on..'.. Steve went quiet for a moment and then sighed... 'Nat, would you have any idea why Barton and Banner would follow Trix?..'
'She's controlling them somehow. Clint wouldn't abandon me for her, and neither would Bruce..'.. Tony could hear the anger in Nats voice.
'She can control people?..'.. Ross asked, and Tony shrugged.
'Got no idea on what she can really do..'.. Tony sighed, as they headed further into the city, and his phone beeped with a message.
'Did you get this too? Stay safe, and lay low. The Tide is rising and the teams are getting ready. Suit up, and stand by..'.. Sam read out the message.
'Yeah, we got it too..'.. Wanda tells them... 'Is there any way we can contact Thor and Loki? I mean, they've been gone for a while, they should be back by now, right?..'
'Unless they're still looking for a cure. Trix said she wanted to know if it existed and wanted a lot of it..'.. Steve turned onto the street, just after Tony, but the screech of tyres behind him, the yelp from Wanda and the string of curses from Nat down the phone, had him pulling over... 'What happened?..'.. He glanced back at the car as it pulled in behind him quickly, and he saw Nat get out, slamming her door shut.
He turned the engine off and got out, walking over to her... 'Nat, what's wrong?..'.. He watched her pace about, hands on her hips.
'Why would she need the cure if she was going to remain a werewolf? And why lots of it? Think about it Steve..'.. She stopped in front of him... 'Whos the cure for? Those three followed after her, no problem, and they didn't hesitate to do it, why?..'
Steve was still trying to understand... 'She said she's an alpha, with no pack, so what if she's got a pack now? What if she turned them, and now control's them?..'.. Nat huffed out a breath and turned to kick the drivers door of the car.
Steve thought it over, and he worried Nat was right, what if that is what had happened to their friends...
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'Merce, you put your hands on them again, and I'll rip your throat out..'.. Trix glared at her in the rearview mirror, the woman huffing as she folded her arms, sat between Barnes and Banner in the back.
'Think they got out?..'.. Barton asked her, from the seat next to her.
'They did, they're all heading to the tower now. So, Banner, any reason you came with us?..'.. She glanced back at him, seeing him fidget in his seat... 'Not gonna hurt you Doc, and Merce won't touch you again, if she wants to live..'
'I Uh, I just wanted answers, about everything. You, your mom, and..'.. He trailed off, and she knew what he wanted to say.
'We'll be at the safe house soon, and we can talk then. Barnes, you good?..'.. She asked, as shw took a right, heading to her safe house outside of the city.
'Yeah. Not regretting my decision if that's what you're asking..'.. He chuckled and tapped thw back of her seat.
'Wasn't asking that. You get you just walked away from family, you all did, but you are still under strict rules from the government. Leaving with me, any one of the team could turn you in for this..'.. She sighed, shaking her head.
'You left one hell, and got out, last thing I wanted to see, is you being thrown into solitary on the Raft, or worse, a lab rat..'.. She clicked her tongue... 'And this is why I'm a villian, I'll kill anyone and everyone who tries to lock you up. You deserve to be free Barnes, and over my dead body, will anyone take that from you..'
'Careful Trix, sounds like you care..'.. Barton slapped the back of his hand to her arm and smirked across at her.
'I don't care Barton, you know that..'.. She looked across to him... 'You know the lengths I'd go to, to protect innocents and stop the bad guys, remember?..'.. She gave him a knowing look and he nodded.
'I know. I got your back T, always..'... He looked out the front window, seeing the road they were on... 'Where the hell are we?..'
Trix smirked as she turned down the dirt trail for her house... 'My place, I ca it the cage..'.. She saw the house as they turned the bend, and pulled up in front of it... 'Its only got three bedrooms, so share if you want, but Merce..'.. She shut off the engine, and turned in her seat... 'You stay off them, and out of their rooms. I'll know if you're sneaking around, I can and will kill you, got it?..'
'Don't threaten me with a good time Trix..'.. Mercy winked at her... 'I'll be a good girl..'
'You better. I'm running low on my shots, and it's almost a full moon. I'll lock you in the cage with me, as my chew toy..'.. Trix saw fear flit across Mercy's face, and the woman nodded.
'I'll behave..'..
'Good. Now, everyone out and let's get inside..'.. She stepped out of the car and stretched her body, clicking her neck side to side as the others got out too.
'You got anything to eat here, I'm starving..'... Trix grinned and turned to look at the direction the voice came from, and watched him walk from around the side of the house on the deck.
'You can eat me, I won't complain..'.. She took off, running at him, and wrapping herself around him... 'welcome back to the land of the living, wondered when you'd get here..'
She stepped back and turned to the other four... 'This is Doctor Stephen Strange, and this is Banner, Barnes, Barton and Mercy..'.. She introduced them all....'Come on, I need a drink, especially if you're here now..'.. She patted his shoulder and he chuckled at her.
'We need to talk, I got your message..'.. He said as they all headed inside... 'Want to tell me what it's about?..'
'I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours..'.. She glanced back at him as she headed into the kitchen area... 'You smell like magic..'
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