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Things went boom at the HYDRA base, things usually went boom when Iron Man was involved. This time though, it was personal, downright insulting. So, the booms came faster and stronger than they usually would. Titania had given Loki’s scepter to Fury ass a symbol of peace and trust, and now HYDRA had it. Sounded like there was a traitor in S.H.I.E.L.D. that had grabbed it and now it’s in this base in Sokovia. The fact that S.H.I.E.L.D. was oblivious to the whole thing was such a letdown, and if Kalina’s mother were to know of the incompetence, there might not be a S.H.I.E.L.D. left. A blast from her left startled Kalina enough that she let out a string of curse words. “Language,” Steve Rogers warned her in his Captain America voice, both of which caused her to groan. “Sure thing Cap. I wouldn’t want to hurt Clint’s delicate ears.” “It’s ‘cause I’m such a flower,” Clint mumbled, “not like I don’t walk in on your two saying the dirti-” “No chatter over the comms,” Steve yelled as his shield struck a few HYDRA agents. “Yes Cap,” Kalina replied as she made her way to the castle that was the base. “Just keep them busy out of here,” she said as she got closer. She couldn’t help making one last note, “Please watch your language guys we don’t need Cap to have a heart attack.” She cut off her comm and flew into the castle through an open window. Inside the castle, the suit opened and Kalina stepped out. She took in a deep breath and looked around the room to make sure no one can see her. Once satisfied she removed the comm from her ear and placed it into the suits hand. “Hold on that.” She turned to a wall and gave it a look over. “If I was trying to hide a stick ‘o doom.” She began to push the stones at chest height and gave a grin as she heard a click and the stone wall gave way to a walkway. “I need one of these. Without Tash knowing.” She took a step in and reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pin from her pocket. As the door shut, she began to walk, attaching the pin to her shirt. She tapped the pin; this pin was her protection in this place and she didn’t want to lose it. It did not take long for Kalina to get out of the dark walkway into a bright and way to clean lab. She hated how clinical the lab was and wanted out as fast as possible. Still, there was a job to do, and the scepter was right in the middle of the lab. “How brave you must be to wander into-” “Von Strucker,” Kalina interrupted and turned to face to man who was standing there rather proudly. “That was so cliché, I just had to stop you.” Von Strucker huffed and dropped the bravado. “Princess Kalina. I wasn’t expecting you here.” “You have my mother’s stick,” she said gesturing to the scepter behind her, “what are you expecting?” “I was told that we can have it for awhile if we were able to take it.” “You did, for eight months and my mother is requesting it back.” She raised her arms as if to say, ‘not my fault.’ Von Strucker gave a sigh, he sounded annoyed. “Listen,” Kalina said, “I’ll get the Avengers to back off. As long as I get the scepter back, no one cares.” “The Avengers are destroying the base!” “What are you expecting?” She gave a whistle and the scepter lifted itself up and flew over to her. She grabbed the scepter and cradled it in her arms. “Fury’s getting too close and he has been questioning me.” She gave a smile, and walked back to the dark walkway turning her back to Von Strucker. “I hope you were able to do what you wanted with it.” “Indeed Stark,” she heard him say. Suddenly there was a blast and Kalina was launched into the air briefly before landing hard onto the metal stairs leading to the walkway. The scepter flew into the dark walkway ahead of her which cause her to panic briefly. “Stark!” She looked behind her and saw a woman standing by Von Strucker with glowing red hands. Oh, that’s what they did. Kalina slowly stood up in pain, and made her way up the stairs. “Kill her,” Von Strucker said. Kalina cursed and ran into the dark walkway.
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“Don’t put yourself in such a position that your back is open to your opponent,” Thor told the little girl as she rubbed her back in pain. “Did you have to kick me so hard? I asked you to teach me how to fight. Not to beat the hell out of me.” “How are you to learn if you are not beaten,” Thor asked as he made his way to the nearest couch. He gave a grunt and sat down next to Loki who was reading Kalina’s robot plans. Kalina scowled and joined them on the couch, “Beaten does not involve a grown man hitting a child in the back. You’re strong Thor.” “Sounds like an excuse,” Loki noted as Kalina threw the sword onto the ground. “Maybe you need a different weapon.” “Why did I ask? Why did you agree?” “Why not? If you are trained for an unknown battle, then you are prepared for anything.” Kalina squinted at Thor, to her that made no sense. What did she need to… Howard. She could use this for Howard. “Cheer up Kal,” Loki said, rolling up the plans, “he did that to me as well.”
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Kalina whistled and scepter flew into her hands as she ran. As she turned the corner, she called upon her magic and willed the hidden door to open. She hoped that she could see the door and slip through without anyone seeing. She didn’t want to be loud by hitting the wall in hopes red hands could not pin point her location. The door slid open and she slipped out of the walkway as she heard the woman yell her name. “What the hell did I do to her?” Kalina looked around the room for anything and ended up doing the first thing she thought about… she hid behind the door. In a few breaths the woman rushed in and began to look around, no doubt trying to find her, and only seeing the open suit. Kalina raised the scepter and struck the woman on the back of the head. When the woman did not pass out, she struck her again. Finally, the woman collapsed, and her hands stopped glowing. “Okay.” She knelt down and checked for a pulse, which luckily, she was. With a sigh of relief, she stood up and grabbed the comm from the suit and place it back into her ear. “Missed me?” “Where were you,” Natasha questioned through clenched teeth. “Deep in the base, I got the stick.” She looked at the woman again, “and I need the special cuffs, I got a prisoner here.” “I’m busy with a speedster here,” Clint announced sounding annoyed. “Giving them a good chase,” Steve said and she could faintly hear his bike. “I think that you like that bike more than you like me.” “Kal,” Steve warned her, only paying half attention. “We’ll talk later lover,” she teased as the turned to the woman. She looked between her and the suit, then gave a sigh. “JARVIS, I have a dumb idea.” Thor had unhooked the cuffs from his belt to announced that he was heading to Kalina when the suit erupted from the castle, collapsing the part of the building it came from. As it flew over to Thor the suit blasted a few Hydra agents that were giving the Hulk problems, so that the green creature could deal with the tank. As it landed, Thor approached the suit with a grin. “Lady Kalina, I do hope you still are in need of the cuffs.” The suit turned to Thor stiffly, “I’m sorry Mr. Odinson but madam is still in the castle. The prisoner however, is.” The suit opened and dumped the woman out. “I must get back to madam.” The suit closed up and flew back to the castle leaving Thor with the prisoner. Thor shrugged and proceeded to cuff the woman, he can ask her later why she needed the special cuffs. The cuffs glowed as they closed around her wrists, and she remained out like a light as he lowered her to the ground. “She is in her cuffs Iron Man,” he announced over the comm, “I must get back into battle, Hawkeye is becoming undone by his opponent.” “You try to keep up with this g-” “Clint?” “His opponent had knocked him down Captain,” Thor told him, “the man is as fast as… what’s a fast creature in Midgard.” “Doesn’t matter right now,” Natasha answered, “he’s fast. Work with that.” Thor huffed but made his way into the fight.
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Tony hung back as Kalina turned the corner into the foyer. She stopped briefly and gave him a look for support. She knew he wasn’t supposed to be seen, yet, but she was not happy about him hiding. He gave her a thumbs up, and she gave him a nervous smile. With a sigh she turned and continued into the foyer, where Howard and Maria were standing with her mother. Titania had invited them into the palace for a weekend. Things had gotten tense between Titania and Howard, no doubt over S.H.I.E.L.D. and herself. This was a chance to show Howard and Maria that no… hard feelings were happening on the Empresses end. Maria saw her first and her eyes lit up. She knew that Kalina was a female, but due to Howard, only got to see Tony, the male. Maria left Howard’s side and approached her. “That’s what you look like.” Kalina nodded, still waiting for a hard answer. “Howard, she’s beautiful.” Howard though ignore his wife and looked at Titania. “This better be worth it Peggy. I don’t want to be disappointed.” “Take a vacation Howard,” she ordered in a gentle voice, “we are in the spring. It’s a freeing time.” He scoffed as he looked at Titania’s dress. While it was long, to her feet, it was just layers of thin, sheer materials. While not obvious, he could make out parts of her body. “Never thought you would sexualize yourself though. Kalina gave a small giggle at Howard’s comment, which cause him to look at her. He scowled at how his own child was dressed just has immodest, but her dressed stopped at her knees. Maria shot him a warning look, which meant a fight might break out. “Would you like for me to show you to your rooms,” Kalina quickly offered, wishing to stop this fight. “Kalina,” Titana said to the fifteen-year-old, “while I applaud you for being a good host, you do have work to do.” Her mother waved her off, and with a quiet, “sorry, excuse me,” to Maria, she quickly left. Once she turned the corner and was out of sight, she gave a deep breath. Tony approached and gently squeezed her shoulder. “You’re fine.” “No, I’m actually really good right now. Maria, I think likes me. I mean the actual me.” “You thought she wouldn’t?” “I…I was always her son over there. I acted like it and looked like it. I thought that she would hate seeing the real me and not the-” Tony cut her off by laughing and patting her shoulder. “Let’s not over think about it right now. I think you have a robot to build for your degree.”
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They couldn’t catch the speedster, but they had the woman and the scepter, so it wasn’t a total loss. The woman was now in the Helicarrier, in the rebuilt cell that held Loki before. Kalina was leaning on the rails watching her, and the woman was watching her back. Steve entered the room carrying two cups of coffee. When he waved one in her face, Kalina grabbed it, but kept watching the woman, like they were having a staring contest. “She hates me.” “You don’t know that,” he told her sitting on butt on the rail. “Don’t I,” she questioned, “she knew who I was, like this. Not as Tony. She called me Stark! Steve, I don’t know what I did.” She took a deep drink of her coffee and played with her cup. “Fury does not want me to talk to her. For my safety, he says.” “You want to talk to her?” “I want to know what I did. Is there a way to make it better?” “You can die.” Both Avengers looked at the woman who was at the wall nearest to them. “It won’t bring my parents back, but it’s close enough.” Steve leaned over to Kalina, “is this a fae problem?” The fae shrugged and looked at the woman. “Explain if you would.” The woman smiled and put her hands against the glass. “A Stark missile and suddenly my brother and I all are alone.” Kalina squinted at her in confusion, “we don’t make missiles anymore.” She bit her thumbnail in thought. “When was this,” Steve questioned the woman. She shrugged, “three or four years ago.” “You stopped making missiles before that.” Kalina nodded the scowled, “either a group of people are selling them behind my back, it’s an old missile, or someone made a fake and sold it as a Stark missile.” She hit the rail in disgust and pulled her phone out from her jacket pocket. “JARVIS, go through the company records and the computers. All of the computers.” “Shall I alert Ms. Potts?” “Yeah, she needs to know.” “Of course, madam.” She grunted and tucked the phone back into her pocket, then took a long drink of her coffee. “Kal?” She lowered her cup and looked at the woman again. “I wouldn’t worry Miss…” “Wanda Maximoff.” “Miss Maximoff. I wouldn’t worry, you’ll have a chance to kill me. If I know Fury-” “He’s not that cruel.” Kalina gave Steve a disappointed look. “Fury’s been wanting to torture me for a while. Considering who I am, and her abilities. I’m the only one who can handle her.” Steve sighed and took the coffee cup from Kalina, then gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “Let me prove you wrong. I’ll go talk to Fury.” “Watch me I’ll be right,” she yelled as he walked away and left the room. With Steve gone, she turned to the woman, who was still watching her. “Was that good for you too?” “Does he know?” Kalina shook her head, “it’s not his business.” Wanda tilted her head.
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It was explained to Kalina that she had to be a boy on Midgard. Her mother told her that as a baby she was a boy named Anthony. Even though she knew her mother’s laws about men, she questioned why she was turned into a girl. She wasn’t upset, just curious, but her mother would only say that she will be told when she was older. Now though she expected the five-year-old to be Anthony Stark. She was also promised that she would have fun building with her father. Yet, a week in and he was bored. Howard wanted nothing to do with him unless he had to and Maria was avoiding him. From what he understood she could not be blamed for this reaction. Her first reaction was to get angry with Howard. She had thought Anthony was her child and did not understand why Titania took him away until one of the servants explained to her. To her, the child was a bad memory of a lie. So now Tony was alone in a plain room that was supposed to be his. The room was dark, with only the balcony doors to let the air move about. The room was stuffy, almost choking him. A knock startled him and it took him a few seconds to get over the knock. Finally, he slipped off the bed and slowly made his way to the bedroom door. The knocks stopped when touched the knob. He thought against it and drew his hand back. “Hello?” “Hello Anthony,” a woman spoke softly on the other side. “Would it be all right with you if I come in?” “I guess,” he replied slowly, not sure about the woman. “If you want me to come in dear, could you open the door? My arms are full.” Nervously he opened the door all the way and saw a woman with an apron tied around her waist, and a tray in her arms. “Thank you dear. It’s hard to open the door with your feet.” He gave a small laugh and followed her to a desk that was in the room. She placed the tray down and lifted a metal lid, and the smell hit him. His eyes lit up at the glorious smell of baked goods. “Come here love. It’s just some milk and cookies.” He stood beside her as she poured a glass of milk into a small cup. Then moved away to let him sit. “I’m sorry.” “For what,” Tony asked as he grabbed a cookie, chocolate chip. “That you had to deal with the Starks for a week without us. My husband and I took a small vacation.” “Vacation,” he questioned, his mouth now full of cookie. The woman nodded, “do you not have vacations in Faeland?” He just shook his head, now confused by her. She gave a sigh and leaned against the nearest wall. “We just took a little trip for fun.” Tony nodded and stuffed another cookie in his mouth. She smiled as he grabbed the glass of milk. “You live here,” he asked with his mouth still full. “We work for the Starks.” “Like servants,” he asked once he swallowed his milk. “I prefer the term assistant. I doubt either can run anything on their own.” Tony giggled at the image of Howard unable to turn the radio on. “Now,” the woman said getting his attention. “I should back to running the house. Would you like to help me?” Tony nodded excitedly and downed the rest of the milk. Then he realized something, “I don’t know your name.” “Oh, I’m sorry darling. My name is Ana.”
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After the whole debacle with Loki, Pepper thought that she would not be shocked by the Kalina’s antics with remodeling of the tower. She honesty thought is was done, so she entered the penthouse and was confused by the people coming in and out of one of the bedroom suites. “JARVIS, where’s Tony,” Pepper asked as she stood in the kitchen, pouring two cups of coffee. “Sir would be in the room being remodeled talking to the decorators. Sir will be housing a… guest by order of Director Fury.” Pepper gave a huff and made her way into the bedroom. Kalina, I the male form of Tony rubbed his eyes in annoyance at what he agreed to. He didn’t want this Maximoff on his floor, much less in his tower. Fury though, didn’t care and not only shoved the woman onto him, but he had convinced Steve that this was a very good idea. Even to the point that Steve agreed that she needed to be on the same floor. He lifted to head to see Pepper step up to him and hand him a mug of coffee. He took it and downed the mug. “What is this about orders from Fury? I thought you weren’t going to?” “Well,” he began before leaning into her, “the captain gave a few good reasons why I should do what Fury wanted.” “Was the bed involved,” Pepper questioned quietly. Tony scowled but said nothing else on the topic. “Can I help you Miss Potts?” “I can place the papers in your room. You seem to be busy.” Pepper gave him a pat on the shoulder and left him to this mess. The decorators and builders had left a few hours, the room was not done but they would be back tomorrow. Finally getting a breather Kalina stretched and hovered around the living room, waiting for Steve to show up. Finally, the elevator open and Steve came wandering in. “I help make a livable room on your request Steve,” she whined as she stood up and made her way to him, “and you weren’t even here.” Steve gave a smile and kissed forehead as she leaned into him. “I do have work Kal.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her as if in apology. “If you think that is a good apology.” He chuckled and kissed her forehead. “You’re going to hate me.” “Are you leaving again?” “Just a few days. Nat requested that I join her for a bit.” “A bit,” she whined and wriggled her way out of his arms, “this is the fourth time she’s done this.” “I’ll just be in DC.” Kalina scowled and crossed her arms, “just in DC? Maximoff is here because of you. Now you’re prancing off with your best friend leaving me alone with the one who wants me dead.” “You’re not alone.” She rolled her eyes. “Clint is off with his family. Thor is back in Asgard. Bruce has actually left the tower to work on the helicarrier. You and Tash are now running off.” She made a gesture to the air, “no offense JARVIS.” “I’ll remember the compliment madam,” her AI replied sarcastically. Steve grabbed her hand and led her to the couch. “It’s a few days,” he told her as he pulled her down to sit on the couch, “then I’ll reject the next few missions.” She grunted and allowed him to cuddle her. “If it gets bad, then take her to your mother’s. I’m sure your mom can handle someone like her.” Kalina didn’t say anything but laid there staring at the wall. “Kal?” “Is it because of what we found in the tests? That one of your parents is fae?” “What caused this?” She shrugged and thought back at the test that they did a year ago, it told them that it wasn’t just the serum. One of his parents were fae, they couldn’t tell which one though, the serum was making it hard to determine using the technique they were using.Now that she thought about it, he started doing these missions not too long after the test. Without fully realizing it, she noted the thought out loud. “It has nothing to do with that.” He rubbed her scalp with made her shiver. “It has nothing to do with anything that has happened in the last year.” “Are you able to at least stay the night?” Steve smiled and kissed her cheek. “I can do that.”
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Tony had gotten good with keeping secrets, lying, and acting while on Midgard. He was forbidden to talk about the court, his real mother, and the fact that he was a girl. The best thing about the rules that Howard placed on them was that he was never going to know about HYDRA, and the deal they currently had. It wouldn’t had mattered anyway, Howard never listened nor cared anyway. All Howard cared about was his lost soldier, Captain America. Someone that Tony wasn’t, and Howard had no problems stating. Tony asked a few times about the Captain, but Howard would refuse to tell them, Tony wasn’t worth the air to talk about it. So, Tony went to his money, and she was no help either. Talking about it upset her sometimes, and other times the stories were so romanticized that it could not be swallowed. No, it was decided that there was one more person and they were in luck. Howard was dragging him to S.H.I.E.L.D., and Tony was not going to question it. Alexander Pierce greeted them at his office, he made sure that Tony was greeted as well before he gestured them to sit. Howard began going through the reasons why he was there and they began to talk. Tony paid attention, only pretending to not care. Somehow, Howard got pulled out of the office by one of the agents that Tony figured was a HYDRA agent. Finally, Howard was annoying them. “Mr. Pierce. I would like to call in one of my favors.” “All ready,” Pierce questioned, “what’s the favor?” “Information. On Steve Rogers.” Pierce’s eyes narrowed as if he was studying Tony. “May I ask why?” “Howard. He’s obsessed,” Tony said wriggling in his chair, “He doesn’t tell me anything and my mother… talks but says nothing.” Pierce studied the child for a minute then nodded. “I can get you information. I’ll have it delivered to your mother’s house.” “Thank you, Mr. Pierce.”
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Steve was still not back when Maximoff was dropped off a week after Steve left. Pepper stood next to her holding two cuffs in her arms, watching as they removed Wanda ankle cuffs. Like in a ceremony Pepper presented the cuffs to Kalina as the agents removed their own. Kalina grabbed the first and clamped to hard onto the woman’s left arm. “These keep you from being able to use your magic unless I allow it.” She grabbed the second one and did the same to her right. “By the grace of Titania, I bound you until I give you freedom.” Pepper flinched at that phrase, but nothing was said as the agents left, with Wanda giving Kalina a smile. Wanda began to wander around the living room, allowing the two to talk. “When is Steve coming back?” Kalina shrugged and made her way to the kitchen. “Anyone but me want coffee?” “I need to get back to the office. I have people to rule over.” “Careful Pep that power can go to your head.” Pepper rolled her eyes and told Kalina to behave herself, “I don’t want to rat you out to Steve.” Kalina felt Wanda’s eyes as she poured her a cup. “I swear. If you keep up with this creepy act, I will find a way for you to make your life miserable.” Kalina looked up at Wanda with a smile on her face. “You want to see?” Kalina snapped her fingers and the cuffs began to glow. The fae went back to her coffee as Wanda began to scream, Kalina giving a small smile as the witch clawed at the cuffs. Kalina snapped again and Wanda stopped screaming. Wanda could only look in confusion as Kalina walked by. “We’re having pho tonight,” Kalina told her as she made her way to the elevator. “You’re more then welcome to join me.” Once she entered her workshop Kalina gave a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. “Madam, there is a call from Mr. Pierce.” “Red or green?” “Red madam.” Kalina sucked in some air then allowed JARVIS to connect the call, “then cut off the lab.” A small bing was all that was given as the video call connected. “Ms. Stark.” “Mr. Pierce.” She put her mug onto the nearest table and stood into the older man’s line of sight. “What can I do for HYDRA today?” “Do you know where Captain America is right now?” “DC as far as I know. He’s chosen to leave me with Von Strucker’s little witch. I think Romanov is doing this on purpose.” “Your love life means nothing right now. The fact that you have half of the Maximoff twins under control is impressive.” “Barely,” she mumbled, “I’m amazed that you even know about her. Von Strucker has always had issues with sharing.” “Files do magically arrive at my desk.” “Neat trick.” “Captain America is getting into HYRDA business Kal,” he said sounding serious. “I don’t know what you want from me on that level.” “He will be back to you in a few days. You and he are close, either he joins us like you did, or he needs to be removed permanently.” “I did not join you. I’m freelancing.” Pierce gave a chuckle as if he doubted her. “Project Insight needs to happen Ms. Stark.” “What do I get from this?” He looked at paper that was on his desk. “Von Strucker. I’ll give you him. He is unstable now, and his attack on you is an insult to our contract.” Kalina gave a rather cruel smile, this could be fun. “When is the next time he’s in the US?” “He will be in DC next month.” “What happens if I fail?” “Then we send the Winter Soldier.”
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Kalina didn’t see a reason to throw back up the Tony illusion once the spare reactor was put into place. “This just sucks,” she whispered getting her breath back, “JARVIS?” “Mr. Stane has Miss Potts. Rhodes is asking what is going on.” “Tell him to keep his pants on and let me handle this. Mama’s gonna work.” Kalina landed not too far from Stane, his bulky armor looked even worse with a bulky man inside. “I heard something from my colleagues in Afghanistan. How long do you think you can hold onto the lie Tony? Now that I know how long?” Kalina said nothing but approached the suit she saw as inferior, ready to charge it. He chuckled, “I don’t know how you manage to fool everyone. I’m a bit disappointed in myself for not seeing it sooner.” “It would be a compliment Stane, but then you are blind to the obvious.” “That voice does not suit you Tony.” “I honestly don’t care about what you think.” “Don’t say that Tony. Is your name even Anthony?” Kalina said nothing but began to charge at him. Stane held Kalina’s helmet in his hand. “You think you can beat this superior suit Stark.” Stane threw the helmet away, then looked down at the woman and gave a grin that made her nervous. “You are quite the woman Stark,” he tilted his head, “very pretty. So much I can do with you.” He stood over her with his feet on each side of her hips. Giving a glance she noticed that protruding from the suits’ feet was a wire. Bad build, I’m insulted. Stane was too busy gloating to notice that Kalina had a hold of the wire. Kalina began to laugh at this whole thing, which got Stanes attention. “You got a problem Stane. You’re to busy talking to see what’s going on.” She sent a jolt of magic to the wire and soon Stane’s suit began to sizzle. She let go of the wire and moved away from Stane. “What did you do?” “Showing off the suits faults.” The suit began to release smoke and Stane began to panic. “One of the biggest faults is the driver. If it’s flawed it is dangerous.” Stane screamed as he tried to remove the suit, the smell of cooked flesh was coming from the suit. “I’m afraid Stane, that your mindset will not work. Not in the suit, not in my business.” “Who says you’re any better,” Stane groaned, then fell over his flesh cooked so much that is caused Kalina to gag.
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“You’re not human.” “I don’t deny it,” Kalina replied to Wanda as she worked on schematics for a new StarkPhone. She looked up at the woman, who hovered above her as Kalina sat on the couch. Wanda scoffed, “this does not seem fair.” “What? That you have to think to get your revenge.” “My parents are dead.” “I didn’t do it.” “It had your name on it.” Kalina sighed, “does one blame the car makers if someone runs a person over with it? Do you blame the company who makes the rifles when a person is shot by the rifle?” She tilted her head at Wanda, who now looked mopey. JARVIS alerted them that a SHIELD agent was here to pick up Wanda. “Think about it when they talk to you.” “You know I’m going to tell them about you and Hydra.” Kalina grinned, “unless you have visual proof you have nothing.”
1990
“This is going to bite you in the ass,” Tony told Kalina as she slipped off her coat. “I’m careful Tones.” “You are right now. You’ll get comfortable and then,” he snapped his fingers. She rolled her eyes and began to slip out of her work outfit. “Tony,” she whined, “you sound like Pepper.” “Cause she makes sense,” he noted, “why can’t she be here to be the sensible one.” “Mom has her doing an errand.” Tony sighed and leaned against the bedframe. “I love you Kal. I just don’t want to see you hurt. One day Hydra will back stab you, and all that you are building over there will be gone.” Kalina sighed sat on her bed. “I know.” He chuckled and flopped down next to her on her bed. “I’ll be here though. With ice cream if it gets too bad.” “You don’t eat Tony.” “Not the point.”
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Natasha wanted Steve for another mission barely even a week after they had come back. She didn’t know why he was telling her this as they were lounging on the couch. Kalina pouted at Steve when he told her that. “You promised Steve.” He sighed and nodded. “I know. She gave me the time then walked off.” “You’re going, aren’t you?” Steve looked away, which caused her to get upset and groan. “Are we even a thing? I swear I thought we were.” “Kal.” He knelt in front of her and rubbed her knees. “If it’s okay with you. I’ll just sleep in your bed and not wake up in time.” “You? Mr. I-run-at-dawn?” He gave a laugh. “Then keep me busy tonight.” He began to kiss her bare knees, which caused her to laugh. “My knees do not need kissing.” He gave an exaggerated sigh and rested his head in her lap. “You know,” Kalina said running her fingers through his hair, “we can go to my mother’s house.” Steve’s smile faltered. “Steve?” “Nat doesn’t want me to go.” Kalina raised an eyebrow. “Are you two dating and just don’t want to hurt my feeling?” “She thinks that… something is wrong with me when I go over there.” Kalina slouched in her chair. DAMN IT! She looked away. “She’s been interrogating Wanda and-”“Fine.” “Fine?” “Go on this stupid mission. You would rather listen to Natasha.” Kalina pushed Steve off and stood up from her chair. “It’s been fun Steve. It’s obvious that you care more about S.H.I.E.L.D. then what we are trying to create.” She was beginning to panic, “you’re the one that asked. Sometimes, I feel like I’m a side fling for you.” “Kal,” Steve said softly quickly standing up and wrapping himself around her in a hug. “I’ve never done this before,” he said, “this is all new.” He leaned back a bit and looked at her upset face. “I’m not Oberon though. I will never hurt you on purpose.” “I’ll find a way though,” she said trying to hold back tears. She wonders if she was going too far with the guilt. “I usually do.” “Don’t say that Kal,” He begged, and led her to the couch. “How about we go to bed,” he said then kissed her cheek. “We go through a bit of stress relief.” She began to giggle as he kissed her neck. “Then I can oversleep, and we can go to this great deli down in Brooklyn.” Kalina gave a groan in joy and wrapped her leg around him, allowing him to lift her up. “You ready,” he asked. She nodded and rested her head at his neck, as he carried her to the bed.
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Dr. Erskine did not look surprised when Peggy Carter walked into his lab. “I see my assistant contacted you.” “About a possible problem with Rogers?” “Not Rogers, the serum.” Peggy raised an eyebrow. “What’s the issue?” Erskine gestured to everyone in the lab to leave. Once alone he gets on his knees. “Empress Titania, I beg for an audience.” Peggy took a step back in shock. “You know?” “Since you arrived.” He stood up and looked at the lab table. “In fact, I asked for you to be called.” “Why?” Erskine flinched at her tone. “When I made the serum for… the other side, we had a hollow, one of the banished fae.” She gave a look of disgust and took another step back. “It was the only way to get the serum to work.” “What exactly do you want from me?” “Just a few drops of blood.” Peggy sighed already thinking of a way around it. “You shall have my blood. I will however, be Roger’s keeper.” “Of course!” Freyr scoffed at the amount of blood he watched her donate. “Quite a lot of blood for just a man.” Peggy shrugged and she buttoned her sleeve. “I fear,” Peggy said to him, “that my blood will be for than just this one man.” Peggy tilted her head at him, and he shifted under her stare. “If you know this darling, then why let them do it? They do not need more soldiers of this type.” “They aren’t,” she said standing up and slipping on her jacket. “It’s your job to make sure that they only have this one.” Freyr gave her a smile. “As you wish Empress.”
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It was a glorious two weeks of just them. Well, them and Wanda who would sneer at the couple whenever she would walk into a room when they were cuddling. From what was understood, she was spending time with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, telling them everything she knew about Hydra. Kalina did not care though, Steve was here, safe and with her. Still, something was bound to happen. She had to leave Steve one morning to go to a series of meetings at SI. She had to; Pepper was breathing down her neck about it. He was still asleep when she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Let him know that I’ll be back at the end of the day J.” Her AI alerted her that he understood, and she finally left. Kalina felt something was off when she stepped off the elevator that night. “J, why do I have a bad feeling?” “Could be because I have just restarted, and Mr. Rogers is on your couch.” “Restarted? You’ve been down?” “Seems like for three hours, mam. I fear though Mr. Rogers is showing signs of distress.” Kalina nodded and made her way to the couch dropping her bag on the coffee table. Steve was slouched with his eyes on the bottle in his lap. She reached down and grabbed the bottle, mead from Asgard and it was almost empty. She looked at his feet, two other bottles were there. How drunk are you Steve? She sat next to him and gently touched his shoulder. He raised his head slowly and looked at her. “Kal?” “Hi there, are you okay?” His eyes were glassy and unfocused, and he was shaking slightly. “Steve?” “My head,” he groaned, “it began to hurt. I grabbed one and had a bottle to dull the pain.” “You’re on your third there darling.” Steve nodded and took a drink. “Wanda showed up, showed up with… with Tasha.” Kalina froze. “My ma,” Steve said without looking at her, “said that fae folk are crafty. They will do whatever is necessary to get what they want.” “Your mother would know,” Kalina noted, confused as to why he brought it up. Steve nodded and began to curl up into her. “How long have you worked with Hydra?” Kalina frowned at him. “Steve?” “I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t have believed them if it wasn’t for the footage from the castle base.” Kalina began to think about what to say as a pain that was not usually in her chest began to form. She was becoming scared of losing him. “Kal?” “I work for Hydra like I work for S.H.I.E.L.D.” She sighed, “I was eight Steve, and I was told that it was okay on a case by case.” She grabbed his face and made him look at her, this was going to be hard to lie to him like this. “I haven’t done a job for a few years Steve. Not since my,” she gestured to the reactor in her chest, “and I just fixed things. I never built for them.” That was a lie of course, but the items and plans were under a different name, at Pierce’s insistence. “Madam, Miss Romanov and the witch are coming up.” “Why?” “I do not know I’m missing certain floors in my sensors. I have also picked up a recorder under the coffee table.” “How did they do all this?” “I do not know madam.” Steve groaned and pulled her close to him. “My head hurts.” “What part does darling?” He gave a weak chuckle, “you called me darling.” “Of course, I did.” He reached up with both hands and touched two parts of his head. He gave a groan when he pushed. The elevator opened and Natasha and Wanda stepped off and made their way into the living room. She ignored him and focused on Steve. He was touching two spots, both were on the parietal bone and they were, as far as she could tell equal distance from the sagittal suture. “How bad is it Steve?” He groaned and buried his head into her. “That bad huh.” “Scratch my head. My ma used to do it when it would hurt like this.” This would have to be questioned later, she decided as she forced him to lay his head on her lap and she began to rub his head. “Are you two busy?” Kalina looked up at Natasha. “I don’t know Tash. Should I be waiting for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to arrest me, or can I take care of Steve?” “It was too easy for you to get the scepter without back up.” “Oh, this is how we are starting,” she mumbled but still rubbed Steve head. “Let me guess Tash, she told S.H.I.E.L.D. and it took you this long to get video evidence.” “You make it sound boring.” Wanda scoffed, “why is she not arrested, she is known to be working with Hydra.” “So are you,” Kalina told her. Natasha sat in the chair not too far from them. “Why Kal?” “I was eight. I don’t know why my mother was there. I saw something that needed fixing and I fixed it.” She looked around then asked Wanda to grab the Starkpad and hand it over, even saying please. She began to write something onto the pad once she got ahold of it. “However, I can’t say what I fixed. It’s in the contract, which is slowly breaking because of Von Strucker.” “Silence, like what Howard did.” Kalina nodded and she handed Natasha the pad. “How drunk did you get Steve.” “We didn’t,” Wanda snapped, “we told him about you and his answer was to deny it and drink.” Wanda looked over Steve. “What’s wrong with him?” “Not sure. Where he says he is hurting is something I’m gonna have to… check something.” Natasha raised an eyebrow at that. “Check something?” Kalina shrugged at that. “So, what do you think?” She gestured to the pad, “is Steve going to hate me tomorrow?” “I don’t know Kal. This is big.”Natasha looked at the pad again and was sick to her stomach. Alexander Pierce, she knew of him, a former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and now a member of the World Council. To make it worse, Kalina was always called to fix one thing. The Winter Soldier’s arm.
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Natalia was led into the training room that she was going to be training in for a few hours. She was told the Winter Soldier was going to train her, but she was going to have to be patient. She had trained with him before and knew what was coming. She was not expecting to step into the room and see a young woman with dark hair tied up working sitting in a chair close by the soldier who was sitting in the other chair with his mechanical arm laid in the woman’s lap. She was talking in Russian to him about her father, she didn’t sound happy about the man. Natalia’s handler coughed, which got the two adults to look up. “We’re almost done,” the woman yelled and made the soldier open and close the fake hand. “Are we good?” “Serviceable.” The woman sighed and dropped her head. “One of these days.” The soldier looked confused at her sentence, but she gestured to Natalia instead of explaining. “Your student is here. I’ll be at the sidelines watching.” Natalia had managed to shove the knife the soldier had given her to train with into his arm and cut some wires. When her handler called her off the woman ran to the soldier and led him to the chairs where she sat him down and began to work on the man’s arm. She began to talk to him again, but her conversation was more clinical. “You did well Natalia,” her handler told her. She gave a nod but watched the two. “Who is she?” “Oh her,” the handler scoffed, “just a mechanic.”
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Steve’s groaning distracted the three from their conversation. Kalina scratched his head again and he curled closer to her. “He might just go through me.” Natasha reached under the table and pulled out a recorder. She stopped it and tucked it away. “Are you sure it’s Pierce?” Kalina nodded. “J, send Tash the recordings.” “I don’t know what you mean.” “I know you record the conversations for my own safety.” Kalina pulled out her phone from her jacket pocket and began to play with it. “J?” “I will upload the conversations to a Starkpad and allow Ms. Romanov to take it to S.H.I.E.L.D. I wish though madam that you didn’t use an override.” “Sorry.” “You act like you care about a computer,” Wanda said almost angry. “Don’t call my youngest a computer.” “JARVIS is an artificial intelligence,” Natasha explained, confused as to why this wasn’t brought up before, “he thinks on his own. He runs this tower.” Kalina gave a smile but began to move the large lump that was Steve. “I should get him to bed. Now Tash, stop trying to keep him away. If this is what I think it is.” “Had to make sure about Hydra.” Kalina nodded, “let me know ahead of time when Fury wants to arrest me.” She laid Steve down as best she could onto their bed. In the end she decided to leave his clothes on him, with how much pain he was in he might lash out. He reached out to her and grabbed her jacket. “Let me get into my nightgown darling.” He groaned but let go and curled up more. Kalina went into the bathroom and began to change her clothes. “Did you send the conversations?” “The ones you have approved of,” JARVIS answered, “and I have moved the others to the external in your lab and have ejected it.” “Great! Now e-mail Pierce. Tell him that I don’t want Von Strucker. I’m going to pull all my favors and get the asset in my charge on a permanent basis. Make sure he knows that Von Strucker and his witch are the cause of this. It’s one thing to insult me, it’s another to try and kill me, and as such this requires for Hydra to make me satisfied. If he asks about what happened with Natasha, tell him that he’s safe.” “Will do so madam.” She stood up and adjusted herself, “thanks J.” “Madam,” JARVIS spoke as she made her way back to the bed. “If I may be so bold.” “Go on.” She climbed onto the bed and pulled Steve close, she went back to scratching his head and leaned against the headboard. “Looking through the records of your people, would it be possible that the Captain could be growing antlers?” She just nodded and continued to scratch his head.
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Kalina was alone in her penthouse, and as much as she liked Steve, she enjoyed the alone time. Steve and Natasha were away on their first mission since the events of the past year. Clint was off on a vacation that they all felt he was due. Bruce was on his floor, he wanted alone time as well after the things had calmed down. Thor was back on Asgard with Loki, no doubt having a good laugh at the whole situation. She was enjoying the quiet under a blanket on the couch with JARVIS reading Steve’s blood test once again. This was her break from the R&D papers that she had to go through. Her and her mothers were now working on what type of fae he was.They had crossed out the spring fae, they were flighty and rarely were in Midgard. Even if they were, they never would have stayed here, baby or no. The winter people were out, they would abandon a child that weren’t fae. From Steve’s records, birth and schooling, this woman was his actual mother. The autumn people weren’t allowed to Midgard without permission, so it would have been noted.“Madam,” JARVIS spoke. “Vili and his family are requesting entrance.” She tilted her head as if to ask why. “They had a run-in with Hollows and one of their own is wounded. We were the nearest safe place.”“All right. Let them in,” she told JARVIS and began to collect parts of her med kit that had been placed in random areas. Trust her and the Avengers to make a mess when they did stupid things.The elevator dinged and JARVIS announced the Hunters were entering the living room. The door opened to reveal the leader of this unit, Vili.Vili was not hard to notice. He was a tall, burley man with bright blue eyes. His hair was dirty blond and was long enough that it was in a braid that right now was coming apart. Like his unit he wore a mix of fae clothing and modern Midgard combat clothing.He took a step forward in a rush and his giant antlers collided with the elevator. His wife, the red-haired Gefion groaned at her husband’s embarrassment, then ducked out of the elevator to make sure her own antlers did not catch.The antlers as it was explained, was the mark that the Empress gave them. The hunters were the Autumn people who turned against Oberon, the Autumn king. They gave up their court during the wars and swore to hunt the traitors. The Empress gave them antlers as to mark them as those loyal to the throne as opposed to the horns that she cursed upon the traitors.Vili gave a loud laugh and moved his head enough so he could step out, which allowed the rest of his unit, his family, to get out of the lift. The oldest and only daughter Saga was helping Baldr, the youngest of the twins. His twin brother Hod had a hold of the shoulder and was being led to the armchair by the youngest child, Rig.“His glasses broke,” Rig explained to Kalina when she gave him a confused look. “The assholes took a good shot,” Hod said as he touched his way down. “It shorted out the circuits and left me blind, again. I liked those glasses.”“I think I have an extra pair,” Kalina spoke thinking out loud. Hod nodded. Saga lowered Baldr onto the couch and gave a sigh. “So close to the target,” she mumbled. “We got ambushed,” Gefion explained to Kalina as she took the kit from the princess, “we got them to chase us instead of our target.”“Where are the Hollows now?” Hod shrugged, “we didn’t see them once we entered the lobby.” Baldr gave a harsh laugh as he held his bleeding side. “We still got ‘em good.”“We did,” Vili told him with his booming voice, “many of their ilk fell as we made our way here.” Gefion just grunted as she went to help her son.Kalina made sure all were comfortable then told them that she’ll be back with Hod’s glasses, “don’t drain my bar and fridge.”“We thank you princess.”“Considering what your family has done Vili, it’s the least I can do.” Kalina knew that once they were left alone, they would take advantage of the luxury that they were usually without. She can only hope that her kitchen and bar still had something in it once they were gone. She knew though that beyond that they would not mess with her things, so she was able to take her time to double check the glasses.She no sooner had grabbed the glasses than JARVIS had alerted her to the oldest daughter’s sudden distress. Confused and worried she had JARVIS get her back up to the penthouse Saga rushed up Kalina as soon as she stepped out of the elevator. In her arms was a frame. Rig followed in an attempt to calm her. “He’s alive,” Saga questioned almost yelling. Saga turned the frame over to show Kalina the picture of Steve.A few weeks ago, Steve had decided to be domestic and made breakfast for the two of them. She stumbled out of bed to the smell of pancakes and saw him cooking bacon and eggs as well. She thought it was just the thing to embarrass him with, so she took a picture of him putting the pancakes onto the plates, then had it printed and framed. “You mean Captain America? Yes, he’s still alive.”“Captain America,” she questioned, “that’s what they called him? He crashed a plane, the Empress said so.”“He did crash,” Kalina answered confused about where this is going, “but he was found in ice not that long ago.” Saga gave a sob and clutched the picture closer, which made Kalina tilt her head studying Saga. “He’s alive,” Saga sobbed, “my son’s alive.”“Saga,” Rig questioned. Kalina continued to look confused then she remembered Steve’s second test. It made sense sure, Steve had a fae parent, but he told her that his father disappeared and his mother died not too long before he took the serum. She tilted her head when it clicked. Oh!Rig watched Kalina go through her thought process while comforting his sister. “Saga,” Kalina said, “how do you know it’s your son?” Saga gave a small smile, “he may have gotten bigger, but he still has that boyish face.”
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Kalina should have seen it coming once Steve sobered up. He left the tower and only talked to her when necessary, and then it was professional. It hurt, a lot, but being fae she was going to be petty about it.Natasha was picking up the witch for another session and Kalina was starting the process of closing her penthouse down. Natasha noticed as she stepped off the elevator at the chaos, Wanda was watching in confusion, if not a bit smug. “Going to your mother’s house?”“The Spring people are coming,” Kalina answered as she covered the electronics in the living room. “They are coming, and I don’t want to feel anything for a few months. Maybe I won’t come back at all.” She looked over at the two women, Wanda looked even more confused, and Natasha looked like she was done with her. “I trusted you Tash. It hurts you know.”“Is this about Steve?” She spun around and looked away for the women. “If it is? You tried your hardest to separate us. Constantly on missions, making us doubt each other. Good job there Tash.”“Part of this is your doing,” Wanda pointed out. “What gives you the right to-” Wanda was cut off by the couch sliding itself to her. It slammed into her and knocked her onto the floor.“You are letting your emotions gets the better of you.”“Why is that a bad thing?” She moved the couch back and sneered at Wanda. “Did that feel good?”“I hope you rot in a cell.”“Give it time,” Kalina said then stopped and picked up that stupid picture of Steve. She decided that Tony better get a good ice cream when she would arrive later.The elevator dinged opened and to even the shock of Natasha, Fury stepped out along with Maria Hill and Steve in his uniform. Kalina sighed and put the picture back, then went back to cover the room. “Director Fury,” Natasha greeted him in a questionable tone.“Princess Kalina,” Fury spoke sounding very formal, “I beg for your audience.”“Being formal Nick?” He said nothing which caused her to scoff. “Fine.” She stood straight and dropped the sheets. “Audience granted Director Fury, Agent Hill and Captain Rogers. Please sit.” She gestured to the couches and all took their seats. As they did Hill saw the picture of Steve with the pancakes. With a chuckle she picked it up and showed it to Steve. “That’s oddly cute Captain.” Steve took it from her and looked at it, as if he was studying it.“SHIELD is compromised,” Fury explained, “but you knew that already.” She sat in an armchair across from them. “Yes, I have informed Agent Romanov about this.” She smiled, “I’m amazed you are not here to cuff me.”“I wouldn’t do it myself. I would have Romanov here do it.”“Hm, thighs of death.” She took in a breath, “I can’t tell you much. JARVIS might.” She tilted her head, “do you know why SHIELD was created Fury?” He shook his head. “SHIELD was a collaboration between Howard and my mother to protect Midgard from forces both on Midgard and Oberon’s forces. Over time Howard got paranoid and was convinced that that Oberon was never going to happen. The drama with me… caused a fraction that could never be rebuilt. He removed all the fae from SHIELD and only dealt with my mother when it came to me.”“So, your mother went to Hydra as allies?”“She never got the contract Nick,” she said. “Madam got the contract. The idea was only to fix, not build. It didn’t stop them from trying to get her to though, not even after the Ten Rings.”“You were eight,” Steve said in thought, “no doubt they thought they could mold you as the time went on.” Kalina shrugged, “the most recent job involved Captain America.” Steve looked at her, hurt. “Let me see how much I can get away with,” she mumbled then sat upright. “Project Insight,” she said then flinched as if she expected something. When nothing happened, she continued, “I know nothing about it. Except whatever is going on in DC they are getting spooked about the spooks.”“They know Steve was involved,” Natasha said out loud. Kalina nodded, “they wanted Steve out of the picture, on a permanent basis. He is a bigger threat to them. I told them I would do it.” She began to get upset, and she began to ramble. “I didn’t want accept it; I didn’t want to hurt Steve. I thought of ways to get him away from the missions. Vacations? Guilt? Going to my mother’s house? Something so he didn’t get hurt. I had to take it though.” She pursed her lips. “If I didn’t then they were going to send-”Kalina felt a sudden, sharp pain in her head, and her world was black.
1974
“Contracts,” Titania spoke to Howard sitting on her throne. Kalina was sitting on the steps leading to the throne and off to the side. “Contracts have consequences for breaking it.”“You keep saying it Peggy,” Howard growled. It was obvious he wanted to climb the stairs and handle Titania, but he knew better. “I can see the consequence right there.” Kalina can see Howard gesture to her. She chose however to ignore him and grabbed a screwdriver to work on her second motherboard.“That was in the contract though. It’s not my fault that you fully didn’t read it all the way.”Freyr knelt in front of the four-year-old. “Trying again,” he asked in a whisper. She nodded, “I want for it to work.”“You’re lucky all I did was take the child,” Titania continued, “most contracts end up in bodily harm. Depending on the contract, either on a temporary basis or it’s permanent.”“This is ridiculous.”“Not my problem Howard.”“I want my son back!” Kalina jumped at the sudden sound, which caused Freyr to glare at Howard. “I can’t change her back Howard; it’s been too long and it would be cruel to her.”Howard didn’t like that answer and began to argue. Titania became cold as he did so, then finally she said in a cold dead voice. “What gives you the right to demand anything from me?”
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Kalina awoke in her bed, her penthouse bed from what she could tell when she opened her eyes slightly. Somewhere in the room, she could hear her mother and Fury argue quietly. A series of fingers were running through her hair and Steve’s voice was in her ear. He was whispering that he did care about her, he was miserable being separated, and that they were going to talk after all of this. She grabbed his hand and just held it. She could feel his gloves and figured out that he was in his uniform. “It must be uncomfortable to lay in your uniform.” “The leather is a bit hard on my hips right now.” They both chuckled, which got the attention of everyone else in the room. Kalina finally opened her eyes fully and looked around. Fury, Hill, Titania and Freyr were by the door, with Natasha and Wanda watching the city from the windows. Why was everyone in her room? “Kalina,” her mother cried and rushed to her bed. She attempted to sit up but pain shot through her hand as she put pressure on them. Steve helped her sit up which was hard without her hands. Once up she took a look at them, they were wrapped in bandages. “Oh,” she said numbly. Her mother sat on the corner of the bed and looked at her. “It was explained to me what happened? Did you forget the contract darling?” Kalina gave her mother a rather upset look. “Oh,” Titania said, and then pulled her daughter into a hug. “It was falling apart darling. It can only be temporary.” “They can’t find out,” Kalina said, “not yet. I have one more thing.” “Howard certainly didn’t notice,” Freyr mumbled then gave Kalina a confused look, “one more thing? What are you planning?” Kalina said nothing but looked at Steve. “No,” Titania warned, “you are not asking for the soldier.” “Don’t lecture me.” “It’s the soldier Kal.” “He could be a good asset Empress,” Hill finally spoke, “for both SHIELD and the fae.” “SHIELD is not getting him.” “Mr. Pierce is on the line.” The room got quiet and tense. “Oh, the timing,” Kalina snarked and told Jarvis to connect him, but not to bring up visual. The connected ping alerted them that he was on. “Mr. Pierce. What’s going on in your world?” “Why is there no visual Kalina?” “I’m in bed right now. Captain America has been babying me the day or so.” “You blew up your lab again?” “Yeah,” she said trying to ignore the others, “so he’s being domestic and out of your way.” “Not quite enough,” Pierce replied, “now why do you want the soldier?” “For one,” she began, “the contract will not hold much longer. Von Strucker and his experiments are still running around unpunished. Two, I don’t trust you all with his arm, with him. With how often your men have messed up his arm he will not be useful to you much longer.” “I’ll concede to that. Now what about Rogers? The man is still alive.” Kalina turned to Steve who looked concerned. She sighed then answered. “It will be under control by the meeting.” “It better be.” The ping was the only hint that Pierce was no long talking. “Make sure it’s fully disconnected J.” “Yes madam.” Kalina wasn’t sure what was going on with the others, all she cared about was Steve. Steve had his hand on her thigh but was looking beyond her, to the other women in the room. “Titania,” Fury said, “outside for a moment?” With a nod the Empress and her companion followed Fury and Hill out of the room. The room was quiet for a few moments before Wanda spoke. “This is your doing,” she told Kalina, not with any malice, but treating it as a matter of fact. “It’s fixable,” Natasha told her. “Fixable,” snapped at her, then took in a deep breath and spoke in a bitter tone, “it may not be fixable. Then where will I be?” Kalina was a builder, she used her hands for everything. What was she going to do now? The fates could not be so cruel for her hands to be ruined. “We’ll figure something out,” Steve said pulling her close to him. She began to suck in air in a bad attempt to keep herself from crying. “Have you ever heard of the two princesses,” Steve said, “my ma would tell me when I would get upset over my sick body.” “What was the point,” Natasha questioned in an attempt to distract them. “My ma told me that even if the situation was bad, you hold your head high.” Kalina looked at Steve, then squinted. “I think I may know this story.” “Oh? What’s your version?” “You want me to do this? After all this?” Steve sighed, “I have to… I need time.” “We need to talk later.” “I think we all need the distraction while the adults talk,” Natasha asked. Wanda had a confused look on her face, which told Kalina that this wasn’t some bizarre dream. “Oh, we are all having talks about this later.” “Start the story.”
The Princesses
Once, when High Court did not exist there were two princesses who lived in a garden that the creators made for them, to protect them from the harsh season courts until they were old enough to rule. It was needed, for the rulers of the season would refuse to give up the throne to the next season and fights would break out. The princesses, it was decided, that they were to rule the court where the throne sat to rule above them all. They would be flexible to fit the seasons, but strong enough to keep the peace. Then the Winter King took the throne and refused to let go. Many in Midgard died and began to flood the grounds outside of the garden. They were lost, afraid, and seeking peace. The former souls of the fae, dwarves and trolls that lived in the garden began to fear the new souls that were begging for guidance. The creators realized that the dead needed to go somewhere and not destroy the garden. They created the realm of Helheim, where the souls go and could reform themselves for the good of the realms. Still, even with the older souls helping the recently dead, they needed someone to rule over the realm. Luckily for them, there were two candidates, but which one? As they argued, the world tree let loose a branch, and they took it as a sign. They took the branches to the princesses and told them that they were to play a game. They will spin the stick and who ever the sharpest point of the sticks points to will get a prize. The girls were excited to play this game and they asked the creators to spin for them to make it fair. It spun and it spun, in what seemed like eternity and the girls were getting even more excited. Finally, the stick stopped at the youngest of the two. The creators told them that the youngest would be the Empress of all and Queen of the High Court. The young Empress was happy and told her sister that with her sister at her side she would be the best ruler. The creators told them otherwise. They explained that the oldest was going to Helheim, to rule the dead. The young Empress got upset and cried. She had never been separated from her sister and being a child did not want to lose her only companion. The oldest however took the job without hesitation, and on the day that she left she left her sister with these parting words. “For bad or for worse, we agreed to do our duties. We must do them with our heads held high.”
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Steve zipped up the back of Kalina’s dark green dress as the limo made its way to this gala that wasn’t a gala, officially. In all honesty, Kalina was more than glad to be done of these secretive events. She adjusted her short sleeves and turned to making drinks. Steve adjusted his black suit and gave Happy a look, like he wanted the driver to say something. “It’s a bad idea this year Kal,” Happy said, “especially since it’s your last.” “I know,” she grumbled as she poured a shocking blue drink into a champagne glass. “If I don’t though.” “I know,” Happy spoke with a shrug. Steve gave a slight cough which caused her to look at him. “Nervous?” “I’m going into this without my shield, and it’s HYRDA.” She gave noise to indicate that she understood, and placed the shocking blue drink into his hands. “Relax Steve. This is just to make you look like you are under control.” He nodded and took the drink from her. She bit her lower lip to stop from laughing as he downed the drink. “It also makes sure that you don’t act out of character.” He swallowed the drink in shock and looked at her. “Kal!” The effect took over almost instantly, his already blue eyes turned to the shocking blue of the drink and his face went into a neutral state. “I’m sorry about this Steve. I’ll make it up to you.” “My next mission,” he replied with only a hint of emotion, “you’re coming along.” “Fine.” “As yourself,” he continued. “Okay.” “Without the suit.” “Steve,” she groaned and a small smile grew in his face. Kalina certainly made an entrance with the Star-Spangled man at her side, especially when it was a HYDRA party. “Steven,” she said loudly, “be a darling and pin me.” He said nothing but took the HYDRA pin from her and attached to the dress below the draping neckline. As he finished buttoning the pin Pierce approached the couple. “Lady Kalina,” he greeted her and moved them away from the entrance. “Mister Pierce allow me to show you my newest acquisition.” She gestured to Steve who stood behind her, acting as a bodyguard. “Don’t be shy Steve, say hello.” “Good evening sir,” Steve said flatly giving a small bow then returning to his passive position. Pierce approached Steve and studied him. “This is how you dealt with him.” “I couldn’t kill him Alexander. Fury and the others would know something was up, plus he’s good in bed.” She gave a giggle and crinkled her nose, “he’s so cute.” Pierce smiled and offered his arm. “We have business before the announcement.” “Announcement,” she questioned as they made their way across the room, “this is the first time I’ve heard of one.” “We just decided to announce it. Just finished the project.” He patted her arm like a proud father. “We must thank you Kal.” “Oh?” He nodded, “your work on your suits and AI gave us the idea. Took us a long time to get it right, but I think we got it right. We may never get to your level Kal. This is why we are giving you the soldier; he’s not needed anymore.” Kalina squinted at him. “Alexander Pierce, are you going to betray me?” “Kal, I’ve known you since you were a kid playing with an arm. While it’s a shame that you are leaving us, I do understand. You have your own life.” He gave her a smile which made her smile back. “I feel like I’m that one uncle who you actually like.” “Flattery,” she told him. “The truth.” He grabbed a flute from a server. “SHIELD and HYRDA are not that different Kal you know.” “But I’m not working for SHIELD,” she replied, “I’m an independent contractor. Give it time, I’ll get the Avengers under me and not SHIELD.” Steve grunted, which caused the two to turn. In his hand were two flutes. “Oh Steve,” she said taking one from him, “act normal and have a drink.” “I shall comply madam.” He began to take a drink and made a face. “Don’t like champagne?” “Too sweet,” Steve noted giving a slight grimace. Kalina chuckled, “I’m sure we can get you something dry later.” Steve nodded and went back to his stand by. “Impressed,” Pierce said taking a sip of his drink. “We were talking business.” “Ah,” Pierce said smiling, “follow me then.”