We're more alike than you think

100. Why?

"And why would I do that?" he said, shaking his head as he laughed it off.

You must have gone fully mad since he last saw you lurking around in Stark's funeral. He had been told that you were just another agent, well, guess he shouldn't have trusted Stark as much as he did. If Ross was being honest with himself, he knew having you on his good side made you an asset to a certain point, but it wasn't that easy either. Your history made it just as difficult, even if you were changed. You had a god damn trial coming up, and your father was one of the most dangerous men on this planet. It made no sense for him to just grant you a team, and he didn't even need one. He had more than enough people he could send on missions. You smiled weakly and turned around to the toolbox where you took up the page.

"You know Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, don't you?" you asked, crossing your hands. He might think he knew what he needed and not, but he didn't or maybe he knew what he needed, but not what he wanted. That's why you were here, to tell him what he wanted and how he could get it. Ross got quiet, you had hit a nerve.

"You see, she is gathering a team of people with powers, like John Walker for god knows what. She seems to think that the world is gonna change really soon, become a strange place, and when that's happening... She wants people like John on her side," you said and turned around so you could face Ross again. You smiled weakly.

"When I was young Contessa even tried to get me to work for her... Why do I mention it when I turned her down anyway? Because that's proof that she is going for everyone with any type of power. Mutants, Inhumans, super soldiers and you name it, and she is desperate," You said calmly. Ross was clearly in disbelief.

"How do you know this?" He asked and walked past you towards the kitchen. You altered the toolbox and walked after him. The two of you sat down by the kitchen counter on high chairs. He poured you a glass of whiskey and slid it over to your side. You took a sip and pointed at him with one finger.

"Don't you know that I and John Walker are close friends?" you said, acting offended by his words. He laughed lightly and took the joke. you took your glass away from your lips holding it in your hands.

"Look, I know you don't need me right now, I'm a hot expensive potential mess right now, but it's a difference between needing and wanting, and Thunderbolt, you know that. Let's be honest with each other. After your time in the military, I know you have craved more power. Of course, power is not something you need, it is something you want, right?" you asked and straightened up. He looked at you, suspicious about where you wanted to go with this.

"Imagine the power of owning your own team, we would do any mission you like and if we ever broke your trust, many of them would be put right behind bars again. It's zero risks. If anyone on the team steps over the line and you want them gone, I'm here to.." you said and snapped your finger. Showing him that you were gonna be kind, following his orders, even if that order was to kill. He smiled weakly at your words.

"And when the so-called strange times come, you would be able to handle whatever Contessa is up to. Personally, nothing would make me happier than to see Walker behind bars," you said with a light chuckle.

He had to admit that he was enlightened by your offer. He knew you were right. It would give him a bigger name, make him a bigger threat, and an even better possibility to protect this earth. Still, he had no clue who you truly were or where your loyalties laid. He knew you had been working with Stark for a long time, fought against Thanos, and now with Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes, so it was clear you were on a good path, but how could he not know you weren't only playing him?

"It all sounds lovely, but you're right. You are a potential expensive mess, and how could I even trust you?" He asked, his tone harsh. You smiled weakly and tilted your head.

"Oh, you can't trust me," you said, as your smile grew. He looked at you confused, you didn't exactly better your chance with that one. You changed the page on the toolbox and pointed your finger at it and stepped out of your chair.

"You see, if you don't grant me my team, I'll go public about the inhumane treatment of mutants The Raft operates in, the prison you are in charge of. How you drugged me down, putting life-threatening anesthesia in my blood, that leaves mutants with two choices either being drugged and safe or stop the drug and become unstable," you said, first showing him the blood test proof, before you showed video coverage and the destruction you had made, simply by a little fight with your father.

"Don't even get me started on the simple things even humans gonna understand is wrong, such as drugging me down to feed me... or hear me out on this one, the media gonna love this one, okay ready? Girl drugged down, got undressed without permission, woke up with wet hair, but no memory of what had happened to her," you said and pointed your finger eagerly at Ross, who was clearly getting mad.

"And it couldn't be better timing that I have a trial that literally the whole world is going to watch coming up, AND, and most importantly, I already seem to be well-liked by the public. So yes, maybe my trial would be expensive to cover and maybe I'll mess up in the future, but you... you would lose your job and the raft would be shut down immediately" you said with a big smile and took a sip as you walked over to Ross's side of the table, only standing a meter away from him. You laid the glass on the table and put your focus back on Ross.

"So really, I'm the one doing you a favor here."