The Sokovian Shadow

Chapter 17

TW:
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I followed the twins as we wandered aimlessly through the tower. Wanda's eyes were glowing red as she and her brother communicated telepathically. I opened my mind to hers.

Hello. Wanda and Pietro were both shocked.

Explain this. Pietro demanded and I felt Wanda's silent agreement.

Simple. You've both "met" me. Pietro, you knocked me to the ground and mocked my choice of weaponry. Wanda, you complimented the strength of my mind and I offered to help you learn better control over your powers. I reported. They were silent for a minute.

How do you know our names? Shit.

I've been stalking Sokovia and eradicating the evil in its shadows since I was 8. It's been almost 8 years since I began, and I've killed at least 3,000 people. Their shock was easy to see. My name is Aorta Necros, but the people I kill to protect call me the Sokovian Shadow.

That's you? Wanda sounded impressed, but her bother wasn't convinced. I gave her a mental confirmation, then sent a wave of curiosity over her brother's consciousness. Wanda had to suppress laughter at the look on Pietro's face as he turned to stare at me. I gave him an innocent look and Wanda started cackling, leaning on a nearby wall for support. I cocked my head at her.

'Clearly, no one stands up to your brother enough.' I commented, smirking at Pietro. At that point, I think Wanda started dying. Pietro rolled his eyes and ran off ahead. I turned to Wanda, who was working on calming down. She stood up straight and wiped her eyes.

'No. No female at least. You're the first. I think it's come as a shock.' I laughed. 'If we're going to be friends I think Pietro had better start running.' She added. I nodded and smirked, still chuckling under my breath. We walked in silence for a bit.

'What's on your mind?' I asked in Sokovian. 'And what's up with your brother?' I added as Pietro ran at full speed in the opposite direction, pausing to throw a red jacket at Wanda.

'You are the only thing Pietro and I never agreed on. Since no-one's ever seen you, we always disagreed on your gender.' She admitted sheepishly. 'I thought it would be cool if you were a female since I'd have a friend who understood. Pietro thought that a male was the only one strong enough or determined enough to do what you did.' I nodded in understanding and we paused as Banner walked in front of us. He passed and we continued walking.

'As for what's on my mind...' She paused. 'Ever since you met us, you've been protecting us. Even after what I showed you at the shipyard. By the way, what's with the... salute... thing.' She looked at me curiously as she tried to imitate it.

The smile vanished from my face. 'I...' I sighed. 'It's a Wraith salute to the dead. The fingers to the forehead allows the soul memories in the After World, the fingers to the mouth allows them to speak after they've died, and the fist over the heart keeps their memory alive in the hearts of their friends and family.' I murmured. She nodded in understanding. 'If you were wondering why, it's because I swore an oath to protect Sokovia, even at the cost of my life.' She nodded, then split off to go find her brother. I continued, sensing Stark and Cap up ahead.

'No way we all get through this. If even one tin soldier is left standing, we've lost. It's gonna be blood on the floor.' Stark claimed as I entered the room.

'I've got no plans tomorrow night.'

'I get the first crack at the big guy. Iron Man's the one he's waiting for.'

'That's true, he hates you the most.' Vision claimed as he strode past. I chuckled under my breath as I left the shadows. Steve looked up at me, slightly surprised.

'How long have you been standing there?' He asked.

'Less than thirty seconds. Also leave him functioning for me, Stark. I'd like to have a go at the guy who hurt my city.' Stark nodded. 'Oh, and by the way, my real name is Aorta Necros.' Stark threw me a yep as he left to get his suit, and Cap nodded at me evenly. I smiled slightly as I left the room behind Stark.

Should I tell them about you?

Not yet; it's too complicated to explain at the moment. But tell them about your wings and soul fire. You'll be using those in the battle. Don't mention your blood magic or your fangs unless absolutely necessary. Celes replied. I sent her a mental confirmation, then readjusted my mask, making absolutely sure it covered my fangs. I saw the Vision up ahead and ran over to him. He turned to me as I approached, bowing his head in a respectful nod. I returned it and followed him in silence. Eventually, we arrived at the Quinjet and I faltered at the size.

'Thanks, but I'll fly.' I eyed the interior nervously. Damn my claustrophobia.

'What do you mean, fly? You don't have one of Starks suits.' Protested Bruce.

'I don't need one.' I replied.

'You don't have wings either.' Clint pointed out. I turned to smirk at him, blinking down my third eyelid before I took a running leap off the side of the building. I could hear the Avengers' cries of protest behind me. I twirled and released my wings from my back, spiralling back up to land on the roof. I grinned under my mask. The wind had blown my hood off my head and my hair tumbled over my shoulders. I straightened from the crouch I had landed in and turned to Clint.

'What was that you said about me not having wings?' I asked innocently. The twins started laughing slightly and Clint spluttered for a response. Bruce was smirking slightly as he gave me an earpiece. Steve was trying not to smile and Stark and Thor were cackling. Vision tilted his head at me. I smirked as I put the small device in my ear and flipped off the roof backward, then spiraled up to hover next to the Quinjet as I waited for the rest of the Avengers and the twins to take off. It wasn't long before we were on the way.

'Ultron knows we're coming.' Began Captain America. 'Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire, and that's what we signed up for. But the people of Sokovia, they didn't. So our priority is getting them out. All they want is to live their lives in peace, and that's not going to happen today. But we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done, and find out what Ultron's been building, we find Romanoff, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us. Ultron thinks we're monsters, and we're what's wrong with the world. This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right.

We landed in Sokovia as Cap finished his speech. I continued flying to the far side of the city. I landed on the roof of an apartment building and reached my mind to the souls of the inhabitants. I hadn't done this before, but I could in theory; interact with and manipulate a soul. I focused, implanting a kind of panic in their souls, as well as the desire to leave Sokovia.

When the inhabitants had left the building and on the way out of Sokovia, I made my way to the next apartment building and repeated the process. I evacuated most of the buildings on the far edge of Sokovia. I was watching the steady procession of people leaving the city from the roof of one of the recently abandoned buildings when the ground began to shake. I snapped my wings open and jumped from the building as it collapsed, the wind currents filling my wings like a sail. I was shocked at what I saw as I circled the Novi Grad.

Sokovia was flying.