Stark's Shadow

Chapter 22 - The Nightshade Reunion

The tower was on lockdown. Petunia showing up is a serious threat. As sweet as she looks, she's nearly as deadly as I am. And where she is, I'm sure Datura isn't too far behind. They're a good team. Sheild is looking for her. Nobody listened to me. I told them not to search for her. She's too dangerous, but why listen to me? It's not like we've committed many serious crimes together in the past decade or so. What would I know?

"Nat, please," I beg my friend, "Can you not try to get Nick to call off the search?"

"No, she's a threat, we need to get her in our possession," She sternly replies.

"She got caught on purpose, trust me. She wouldn't have messed up that badly, or at all. Fucking up wasn't an option, Nat," My voice rushes out in a panic, "I remember what happened to the girls who messed up. Natasha, trust me, this is a setup."

She wouldn't look me in the eyes, "An order is an order, and I have no reason to see any fault in Director Fury's order,"

"You don't know what she can do,"

"Tell me then," She turns to me, "If you know so much, why are you keeping it from us? We are your team. The Avengers, not the Nightshades."

"I know you are, but I don't know if I can truly put the horrors into words, homeslice," I say seriously.

"Okay, homeslice," Nat mocks with a smile, "Can you at least try?"

I nod, "It's nearly impossible to resist her powers. If she can see your face, she can control you. They say she was blessed by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Petunia can make anyone absolutely smitten by her. So much so that they'd do anything for her. And I mean anything. She did it to Thor and tried with Tony, but he had the suit, so he was safe," I tell Nat.

"Is that it? She's a real good flirt?"

"Deadly in combat too," I tell her, "She matches you in combat. Without using her abilities, she can almost take down Datura and Belladonna. Even if they use their powers. She's tiny, but she's deadly. She can kill someone with a smile alone if she wants to. I've watched her drive people mad with a wink, Nat. I've seen people end their own lives because they are so convinced they love her that they want her or death."

Nat shakes her head, "And she's not considered the most powerful?"

"No, not quite," I smile, "She can still only take on one person at a time, and if she doesn't see their whole face, she can't get full control. She relies too heavily on her powers and Datura."

"Care to explain that better?"

"Datura has control over plants, as long as she is somewhere a plant could grow," I tell Nat, "And she's incredibly strong, nearly Hulk-like in strength. Though she's also like Hulk in her ability to think things through. She destroys without thinking and has no method to her fighting. As long as you have the ability to stop a raging Hulk, you could probably stop her too. But with Petunia, they're unstoppable. One leaves the enemy in a daze, the other strangles them in vines."

"Where did you come in?"

"Mass murders," I sigh, "Though I usually took on solo missions, made sure to scare people. It left a message."

Nat nodded, "Is it safe to relay this information?"

"I don't know, Nat. At the very least, tell Nick that no matter what, they're fucking screwed without me, and I'm not participating,"

I walk away, not wanting Nat to try to convince me to help. They're up to something, a trap. Maybe they want me back? They most likely want revenge. I failed them, so they'll be sent to take my life. Not even I get second chances.