Chapter Text
The team made their way to a house in an open field, Clint and Natasha leading the way. Lorna immediately recognized it as his home, where his wife and kids resided and smiled gently to herself.
"What is this place?" Thor asked as they approached the house.
"Safe house," Tony answered.
"Let's hope."
Clint opened the door, entering the home and walking into the living room.
"Honey?" He called out, "I'm home."
A pregnant woman (at least 7 or 8 months) entered the living room, shocked by the presence of the team of superheroes.
"Hi. Company. Sorry I didn't call ahead."
"This is an agent of some kind," Tony declare immediately, looking at Thor.
"Gentlemen, Clarice, this is Laura," Clint introduced.
Laura smiled and waved. "I... know all your names."
Footsteps sounded and Lorna smiled.
"Ooh. Incoming."
Clint's kids came rushing into the living room, greeting Clint excitedly.
"These are... smaller agents."
"Did you bring Auntie Nat?" Lila asked.
"And Aunt Lorna?" Cooper added.
"Right here, kiddo," Lorna announced, smiling to herself as Cooper rushed over and hugged her tightly.
Nat and Lila greeted each other, which immediately seemed to help Nat calm down a great deal.
"Sorry for barging in on you," Steve said to Laura.
"Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea you existed," Tony snapped.
"Yeah, well, Fury help me set this up when I joined. He kept it off SHIELD's files, I'd like to keep it that way."
"Pfft, wish he did that for Lorna and Elias," Tony muttered.
"I figured it's a good place to lay low."
Lorna sighed as she knocked on Laura and Clint's door. Laura opened up, giving her a small smile.
"What's up?" Clint asked.
"Um, I know I left clothes here the last time I was around," Lorna said softly, "I was gonna... hop in the shower. I was wondering if you had them around."
"Oh, yeah, of course," Clint said, hopping up from his chair and grabbing a small box from under his dresser, handing it to Lorna.
"Thanks," Lorna smiled, walking out.
"Lor!" Clint called, causing her to turn around. "If you need to talk... I'm here."
Lorna nodded. "Of course."
She slowly walked into the bedroom the family had set up for when she visited once a month. It, luckily, had a small bathroom with a shower in it. She entered the bathroom, turning the shower on and making sure the water was hot before getting undressed and stepping in.
The hot water made her skin burn ever so slightly, but the only things running through her mind was the disturbing images of the people she loved dead. She took a deep breath, attempting to recollect her thoughts and just get on with the shower.
About 20 minutes passed and Lorna shut the water off, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel. She wrapped it around herself, grabbing another towel and drying her hair off with it. She quickly tossed the towel she used to dry her hair in the corner, walking out of the bathroom.
"Well, if I'd known you were gonna come out in just a towel, I wouldn't have come in here," Steve said.
Lorna jumped and turned around, closing her eyes. "You could've knocked on the bathroom door and let me know you were here, Steven."
"I... didn't think I would need to."
Lorna sat down on her bed and looked up at Steve. "What's up, Steve? What do you need?"
"I just wanted to know if you were okay," Steve assured, "Clarice said you were really shaken up when she found you. And that you had gone into shock."
"I'll be fine," Lorna whispered, giving Steve a small smile. "Now get out, so I can change."
"All right, all right!" Steve ushered out of her room and shut the door.
"Thank you!"
"Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time," Fury concluded, "My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing."
"What about Ultron himself?" Steve asked.
"Oh, he's easy to track," Fury replied, "He's everywhere. Guys multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans, though."
"He still going after launch codes?" Tony asked, throwing darts at a target.
"Yes, he is," Fury answered, "But he's not making any headway."
"I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare," Tony reminded.
"Well, I contacted our friends at the Nexus about that."
"Nexus?" Steve asked.
"It's the world internet hub in Oslo," Bruce answered, "Every byte of data flows through there. Fastest access on Earth."
"So what'd they say?" Clint asked.
"He's fixated on the missiles," Fury said, "But the codes are constantly being changed."
"By whom?" Tony asked as a dart flew past his face and hit the dartboard. He gave Clint a look and Clint shrugged in return.
"Parties unknown," Fury told Tony with a hint of suspicion.
"Do we have an ally?" Lorna asked.
"Ultron's got an enemy. That's not the same thing. Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is."
"I might need to visit Oslo. Find our unknown."
"Well, this is good times, boss, but I was kinda hoping when I saw you, you'd have more than that," Natasha spoke up.
"I do. I have you." Everyone looked around at each other. "Back in the day, I had eyes everywhere. Ears, everywhere else. You kids had all the tech you could dream up. Here we all are, back on Earth, with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world. Ultron says the Avengers are the only thing between him and his mission. And whether he admits it or not, his mission is global destruction. All this, laid in a grave."
Lorna looked around and then at Steve, who grabbed her hand gently.
"So stand. Outwit the platinum bastard."
"Steve doesn't like that kind of talk," Natasha quipped.
Lorna laughed as Steve gave her a look.
"You know what, Romanoff?"
"So, what does he want?" Fury questioned.
"To become better," Steve answered, "He keeps building bodies."
"Person bodies," Tony added, "The human form is inefficient. Biologically speaking, we're outmoded. But he keeps coming back to it."
"When you two programmed him to protect the human race, you amazingly failed," Clarice said sarcastically.
"They don't need to be protected," Bruce muttered, "They need to evolve. Ultron's going to evolve."
"How?"
"Has anyone been in contact with Helen Cho?"
"I'll take Natasha, Clint, and Lorna," Steve said, grabbing his shield.
"All right. Strictly recon. Clarice and I will hit the Nexus," Tony replied, "We'll join you as soon as we can."
Lorna followed the two men as they walked out of the house. "If Ultron's really building a body..." She began.
"He'll be more powerful than all of us," Tony finished for her. Lorna nodded and bit her lip. "An android designed by a robot."
"You know, I really miss the days when the weirdest thing science ever created was me," Steve said, causing Lorna to look down and laugh before walking out and meeting Clarice.
"If things get bad out there..." Clarice started.
"Don't be afraid to call in Blink, I know," Lorna cut her off, nodding. "Hopefully, we won't have to. I know how tiring using your powers gets."
"And you know how dangerous they can be, too."
"Unfortunately."
"Lorna!" Steve called, "You ready to go?"
"Aye aye, Captain!" Lorna called back, before turning to Clarice. "Stay safe."
"Only if you do, too."
Steve and Lorna hopped over the railing of the small building, getting an outlook to the research facility Cho operated out of.
"Two minutes. Stay close."
The two made their way to the lab, Lorna flying her way over there and landing with a thud just in front of the building. Steve caught up to her.
"This is where we work together, you know," Steve smiled, "Don't go running off on me."
They entered the lab, finding Dr. Cho on the floor bleeding.
"Dr. Cho!"
They ran towards her in a worry, Steve kneeling next to her and grabbing a cloth to stop the bleeding.
"He's uploading himself into the body," Cho informed.
"Where?" Lorna asked. Cho shook her head, caused Lorna to sigh. The two Avengers began to leave, but Cho stopped Steve quickly.
"The real power is inside the Cradle. The gem, it's power is uncontainable." Cho took a deep breath. "You can't just blow it up. You have to get the Cradle to Stark."
"First, we have to find it."
"Go."
"Did you guys copy that?" Lorna asked, looking around.
"We did," Clint replied.
"I got a private jet taking off across town," Natasha announced, "No manifest. That could be him."
"The gem is powerful, guys, remember, Lorna will know when it's around. When we find him, make sure Lorna is safe and protected and that she has a place to rest if needed in case the gem is nearby," Steve reminded.
"I'm the best asset on this mission, if I'm down, we're all fucked," Lorna added.
"Copy that."
"There. It's a truck from the lab. Right above you, Cap and Dane. On the loop by the bridge. It's them. You got three with the Cradle, one in the cab. I could take out the driver."
"Negative, that truck crashes, the gem could level the city," Steve answered as he and Lorna climbed up the ladder on the side of the road.
"We need to draw out Ultron," Lorna said. The two ran, catching the truck just below them by this point.
Steve ran and jumped off and Lorna followed, using her powers to ease the fall. They landed on top of the truck with a thud, most likely alerting Ultron of their location.
"Steve," Lorna said uneasily, shutting her eyes as the energy imbalance set in.
Grabbing her arm and pulling her closer, Steve sighed and waited until the dizziness seemed to pass. "You okay?"
"Give me a second," Lorna whispered, trying to regulate her breathing. "Okay, I- I'm good."
The two made their way to the entrance of the truck, basically hanging on for dear life. Ultron suddenly shot open the door, sending Lorna flying off.
"Lorna!"
Lorna instantly got up, using her powers to send herself into the air so she wouldn't get in the way of traffic.
"Well, he's definitely unhappy!" Steve yelled, "I'm gonna try and keep him that way!"
"You're not a match for him, Cap," Clint replied simply, causing Lorna to let out a laugh as she watched overhead.
"He's got me in case it goes south, I wouldn't worry."
At this, Nat snorted. "I would."
Ultron sent Steve flying into a civilian's car, causing Lorna to sigh.
"Uh-oh," she muttered, "Steve? You need any help or do you have this one?"
"I'm-" Steve didn't finish his statement as he clung to a garbage truck, swinging himself off and back to Ultron. "-Fine."
"You know what's in that Cradle?" Ultron asked, causing Lorna to groan and land on the truck with him and Steve.
Steve grabbed his shield and used it to cover him and Lorna as Ultron shot at them.
"No, and honestly, I don't care!"
"The power to make real change. And that terrifies you."
"Wouldn't call it a comfort." Steve grabbed his shield and threw it at Ultron, which he recovered from quickly.
"Lorna, you're gonna get hurt, go," Steve demanded.
Hesitating, Lorna pushed herself into the air and away from the fight scene.
"We got a window," Clint said, "Four, three... give 'em hell." He opened the Quinjet and Natasha dropped out on a motorcycle.
"I'm always picking up after you boys." Natasha rode past Steve's shield, picking it up quickly and tossing it up to Lorna, who was flying above her.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll appreciate us toying with this," Lorna grinned.
"They're heading under the overpass. I've got no shot."
"Well, let's make an effort to not destroy South Korea." Lorna landed on the road briefly before taking off again. "We're still paying off New York."
"Which way?" Nat asked as Lorna quickly caught up with her.
"Hard right... Now."
Natasha turned sharply and Lorna followed, watching as Natasha moved narrowly through traffic, people, and alleys.
They soon found Steve and Ultron again, where Lorna threw him his shield.
Steve quickly hit Ultron with the shield, buying him a little bit of time to resituate himself. Ultron lifted up a piece of road, stopping Natasha from going any further.
Ultron lifted up another piece of road, causing three cars to crash.
"Okay, now he's just fucking around," Lorna said with anger.
"Clint, can you draw the guards?" Natasha asked.
"Let's find out," Clint responded. The Quinjet came down and shot at Ultron, sending the suits after the jet.
"Oh, hell yeah," Lorna grinned.
"Lorna!" Clint called, "The train! Secure the train!"
"Copy!" Lorna shouted, landing on the train and running towards the entrance.
Lorna heard a crash and some screaming, causing her to run to the compartment it came from. "I think I may be too late."
"Okay, package is airborne," Clint reported, "I have a clean shot."
"Negative, I am still in the truck."
"Train situations getting worse, can you hurry up?" Lorna asked, driving a pole through Ultron's body with her powers.
A blue blur sped past them, knocking Ultron down.
"Speed freak," Lorna whispered with a small smile.
"And the witch," Steve added as he saw red wisps pull two railings together, stopping Ultron from getting to Pietro.
Ultron turned to Wanda. "Please. Don't do this."
"What choice do we have?" Wanda replied.
Ultron went to shoot at Pietro, who ducked causing the shot to go through the window.
"And now we're gonna be drowning in debt for Korea!" Lorna shouted.
Ultron blew the door out, flying out of the train.
"Steve," Lorna sighed.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Steve groaned as Lorna stood.
"We lost him!" Steve reported, immediately jumping to help the person in the front of the train, "He's headed your way."
"Cap, Dane, we gotta go," Clint said.
"Steve, we went off the rails!" Lorna yelled.
"Can you stop it?"
"I can try!"
"Cap, Dane, you see Nat?"
"If you have the package, get it to Stark! Go!" Steve shouted.
"Do you have eyes on Nat?"
"Go!"
"Civilians in our path," Steve told Pietro, who sped off. "You two, can you stop this thing?"
"We can try," Lorna repeated, glancing at Wanda.
Lorna and Wanda both aimed their hands at the floor, the color of their powers mixing and gradually wrapping around the wheels of the train. It came to a gradual stop and Lorna sighed, collapsing.
Wanda looked at her as Steve ran over, pulling Lorna into his arms.
"Lorna," Steve said, "Lorna, are you okay? I need you to respond, Lorna, come on."
"I..." Lorna gasped out, "I don't think our power's mix well."
Steve smiled, helping Lorna up slowly. He helped her off the train gently and Lorna quickly recovered from the shock, walking over to the twins.
"I just need a minute."
"I'm very tempted not to give you one," Steve snapped.
"The Cradle. Did you get it?" Wanda asked.
"Stark will take care of it," Steve answered.
Wanda faltered. "No, he won't."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Dad's not crazy," Lorna added.
"He will do anything to make things right," Wanda argued.
Lorna and Steve looked at her for a moment before turning away.
"Dad, Clarice, come in," Lorna said into the comms.
"Stark."
"Dad?"
"Anyone on comms," Steve said.
"Ultron can't tell the difference between saving the world and destroying it," Wanda spoke up once more, "Where do you think he gets that?"
"Do we have any leads on Bucky yet?" Lorna asked as Steve handed her a coffee.
"Unfortunately, no," Steve replied, "How you doing? You got pretty roughed up out there."
"I think the mixing me and Wanda's powers sent me into shock," Lorna laughed, taking a sip of the coffee.
"I was thinking we lost you for a second," Steve admitted, "I got really worried."
"You're not getting rid of me that easily," Lorna smiled.
"I didn't think I could."
Lorna began to walk away and Steve sighed. "Lorna."
She turned around and raised her eyebrows. "Yeah?"
"Don't let those twins into your mind. They're on our side for now, but there's no telling what they might do," Steve advised.
"Right, of course," Lorna nodded, walking away.
"Does she realize how much he's flirting with her?" Pietro asked, turning to Wanda.
"I don't think so, no," Wanda replied, shaking her head.
"Stop eavesdropping on my conversations, freaks," Lorna said, turning to the twins with a slight smile.
"You heard us?" Wanda asked.
"You weren't exactly being quiet," Lorna answered, shrugging.
"Where the hell is she?" Elias' voice rang out.
"Right here, Eli!" Lorna yelled, waiting for Eli to reach her and pull her into a hug.
A few seconds later, Eli approached her, turning her around and pulling her into a hug. "I was so fucking worried when I heard about you collapsing, I-" Eli cut himself off to recollect himself, "You can't just go out exploring your powers on a whim, there's still so much we don't know-"
"I didn't have much of a choice," Lorna interrupted, "If I hadn't, tons of civilians would have been killed. That defeats the purpose of this team."
"You're so lucky I love you," Eli scoffed, shaking his head.
"I'm gonna say this once," Steve said as he entered the lab.
"How about none-ce," Tony snapped back.
"Shut it down!" Steve demanded.
"Nope, not gonna happen," Elias responded.
"Eli!" Lorna scolded.
"You don't know what you're doing," Steve tried to reason.
"And you do?" Bruce asked, "She's not in your head?"
"Banner," Lorna snapped, giving him a look.
"I know you're angry-" Wanda began.
"Oh, we're way past that," Bruce interrupted, "I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade."
"Banner, after everything that's happened-"
"It's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony shouted.
"You don't know what's in there!" Wanda argued.
"This isn't a game!"
Pietro sped around the room, unplugging everything and interrupting to the process.
"What the fuck was that!" Elias yelled, looking at Pietro.
"No, no, go on," Pietro said, "You were saying?"
A gunshot sounded and a bullet shot through the glass, and the floor beneath Pietro shattered.
"Clint!" Clarice shouted.
"Pietro!"
Clint stepped on Pietro's legs the second he hit the ground. "What? You didn't see that coming?"
"I'm rerouting the upload," Tony declared. Steve threw his shield in an attempt to stop Tony.
"Steve, that's just gonna make things worse!" Lorna shouted.
Tony called the hand of the Iron Man suit, using it to blast Steve out of the way. Lorna groaned in frustration, using her powers to pull the hand off of Tony and send it flying back to where it came from.
Bruce grabbed Wanda as she was about to use her own powers.
"Go ahead, piss me off," he threatened.
"Clarice!" Lorna shouted.
"On it!"