𝚃𝚘𝚗𝚢 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙳𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚂𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚍

2*

ɴᴏ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ

"She could be mind-controlling him?" Tony asked in a pained voice.

The team was all gathered to hear their theory.

Carol winced and nodded. "It's only a suspicion right now. But it's possible."

Rhodey moved his chair closer to Tony's so he could wrap an arm around the genius' shoulders. He looked frustrated.

"And we can't do anything?" he asked.

"Not until we either get permission from him to scan him for magic, or other evidence," Carol told them regretfully.

Tony buried his face in his hands. "I should have noticed something."

"Tony no, you were grieving JARVIS. You couldn't have noticed anything. Barton retired before you'd recovered from all that." Rhodey pulled Tony closer and the inventor went without a fight.

Carol moved her eyes away from where Rhodey and Hope were comforting Tony over to the other problem. Jessica was rigid where she sat and shaking. Matt was quietly talking to her but it didn't really seem to be helping.

"So that little mind-raping witch is just going to get away with it?!" she demanded.

Stephen shook his head. "No. Because the magic is going to unravel without her maintaining it. So either it will come undone. Or she'll try and maintain it and set off the wards."

Jess set her jaw, not happy with those being their only options.

"I know it sucks Jess," Carol said softly. "But we can't decide when to follow the rules. It makes us as bad as them."

Jess let out a harsh exhale. "I know! I just, I hate that she's got someone under control like that!"

"Not for long," Loki spoke up. "She's untrained. Her spells will unravel quickly."

A frustrated silence fell over them all. Tony was the one to break it, taking a deep breath.

"What do we do then?" he asked.

"We wait," Stephen spoke up. "We make sure that they stay in the Compound, she'll start to grow desperate to find somewhere she can use her magic if she's aware of what she's doing. If she's not aware she's doing it, then she'll slip up sooner."

"Oh she's aware," Tony muttered bitterly. "She always looked so damn smug when Clint sided with her against me."

Hope put a hand on his arm before looking back at Stephen. "Are any of the others in danger? I know Scott was an idiot but I don't want him to become her puppet."

"She can't use her magic anywhere in the Compound. The two times she used it have been recorded already. The attempt on me was blocked. And Loki had his own methods."

The God of Mischief smiled innocently back when everyone looked at him.

"After that incident I made sure she understood that we would know if she used her magic anywhere in the Compound. She wasn't pleased. But there haven't been any uses since."

"Rogers already put in a complaint about that," Carol rolled her eyes. "He's filling up the box."

Tony managed a tight smile. "What's he complaining about now?"

"Practically everything. They have to use the cafeteria. They don't have suites. They don't have credit cards. He's being charged for breaking the gym equipment. He has to go to court thanks to the charges from Pepper. They can't order whatever food they want. Maximoff needs new clothes or shoes. Maximoff needs to see Vision. He wants to talk to you." She rolled her eyes. "The only thing he hasn't complained about was getting shot."

They all looked at Sharon now who flushed but kept her chin up defiantly. "He deserved it."

"That we can agree on," Hope muttered.

"So, we wait?" Rhodey asked.

Carol and Stephen nodded.

"Perhaps I can attempt to see if I notice something around them?" Vision offered hesitantly.

"No Vision. You don't have to be around them just for that. You said they make you uncomfortable," Carol assured him.

He looked uncertain. "If Agent Barton is being harmed by Miss. Maximoff then I should attempt to see if I can help."

"If you go there Viz, then she'll start bothering you," Tony told him softly.

"I cannot avoid her forever," Vision sighed. "I can at least attempt to confirm your theory."

"But what excuse could you use to be there anyway?" Rhodey asked. "If you don't have one, Maximoff will think you're there for her."

"I need to give them the date and time of the team meeting," Carol sighed. "You can come with me, claim we're heading out afterwards. Actually we can head out. You said you wanted to try bowling."

"Bowling sounds fun," Peter piped up from where he'd snuck closer to Tony, looking worried over his mentor.

"So you two will be giving them the information before heading out to join us for bowling," Rhodey nodded.

"I haven't bowled in a while," Tony mused, flashing a smile over at Peter.

"Well we know what the next team activity is," Danny told them cheerfully.

There were some scattered chuckles before the team broke up to go do their own things. The Defenders grabbed Jess so she could get her frustration out in the gym. Bruce hurried to the Hulk Room. Thor went back to the Asgardians, looking thoughtful. He wore that expression a lot lately.

Eventually it was just Tony and Stephen.

"You really think it's possible Barton is being controlled?" He asked softly.

"Considering his abrupt change after Ultron, it's likely," Stephen sighed. "It wasn't your fault Tony."

"After she left that magic in my head, I should have checked with the others," he argued.

"Tony, you were in no state to be checking on anyone. You were grieving and her magic screwed you up." Stephen's voice was firm. "Do not blame yourself for her actions."

His shoulders slumped and he sighed. "Okay, I get it. I'll try."

Stephen put a gloved hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure this out okay Tony?"

The genius gave him a shaky smile. "Thanks Doc."