Calla Lily

Chapter 9

Returning from Asgard, Calla knew they would have to deal with Fury and SHIELD eventually. Steve was still ignoring Fury, he was mad they withheld the information they had on Bucky. Bruce buried himself in the labs and only surfaced for food and sleep. Loki and Calla spent most of their time training. The stones were easy for her to manipulate, it was like they had been waiting on her all this time. Thor headed off to visit with Jane after Calla pulled him aside and explained that women didn't like being ignored. She made sure he took an 'I'm sorry' gift.

Tony had been switching between New York and Malibu frequently. The reactor being removed meant he could put that tech towards his suits and other Stark endeavors. Calla was worried for him. Jarvis kept her informed on Tony so she knew he wasn't sleeping. Unfortunately, when she tried to bring it up, her brother would tell her all was well. His apologies for being distant always included an upgraded suit for her, it only made her worry more. Pepper had been keeping her in the loop too but Tony had distanced himself from everyone. 

~~~~~

Steve and Calla were looking through a new set of files they had stolen from SHIELD. The conclusion she had come to was that Hydra had spies deep in SHIELD. Now they were trying to figure who it was. Steve was 'talking' with Fury about helping as a freelancer. Calla told him she would go with if he was ever called on. Their attention is pulled from the reports when Bruce bursts into the room.

"Have you seen the news?" Both shake their heads and Calla asks Jarvis to bring it up. They all sit and watch, stunned as the Mandarin broadcasts his message over every station. 

"J, please contact my brother" Calla waits for Tony to answer. 

"Hey Bunny, you see that too?" Tony asks as soon as the call connects.

"What was that, who's this Mandarin character" she asks. 

"No clue but that's not the only strange thing going on. Bunny, do you remember New Years 1999?"

Calla thinks for a minute, "Switzerland. You had some people to meet and planned a slumber party for me in our hotel room" Steve and Bruce look to each other and shrug.

Tony chuckles, she had a lot of 'slumber parties' growing up. "Yeah. There was a guy named Aldridge Killian, I may have brushed him off that night but he's been showing up at Stark Enterprises. Pepper and Happy let me know"

"Bub, do you want me to come out there? I can help keep an eye on this guy" and you she added silently.

"No, I'll let you know if I need you to" Tony tells her. 

Calla rolls her eyes, "You better"

"Love you Bunny" he says.

"Love you too" Calla says, hanging up. Looking to everyone else, "Yeah I'm going to check on him" the three men nod.

~~~~~

Calla had packed a small bag, she was getting ready to head to her brother when Steve runs in.

"You need to see this" Steve pulls her into the living room.

"Here's a little Holiday greeting I've been wanting to send the Mandarin. My name is Tony Stark and I'm not afraid of you. I know you're a coward, so I've decided that you just died" Calla watches, stunned. She's going to murder her brother. When he gives out his home address, she turns to the others.

"I'm going to kill him. I'll be back" she starts but her phone rings. Seeing it's Tony, "What in the hell did you just do!"

Steve, Bruce, and Loki flinch at her anger. 

"I know, I'm stupid. Happy was hurt in an attack and I think I lost it" Tony sighs. 

"I'm coming to you" Calla starts but Tony cuts her off.