Marvel Imagines

Once A Villain, Always A Villain | Avengers x Reader

      A hot June sun beat down upon the streets of Queens, but the weather was the farthest thing from your mind as you sat inside a café by yourself, fingers tapping out an erratic rhythm.

     You glanced at the large, elegantly Victorian styled grandfather clock in the corner of the café, eyes darting between the window and the time, clearly impatient.

     Unbeknownst to you, however, a team of superheroes were positioned carefully around the perimeter, each waiting for you to make a move. After six months of a wild crime spree which included high key assassinations of important government officials, major break ins at museums, huge robberies at involved hostages, S.H.I.E.L.D. had finally decided to send out the Avengers.

     Ton Stark, in his full Iron Man gear, watched from an emptied apartment building across the street, sizing you up with disbelief.

     "That's her?" he questioned incredulously, "The one that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been making such a huge deal about?"

     Not many people would have blamed him; loosely fitting clothes only emphasized your slight and delicate frame as you sipped at the coffee that had gone cold long ago.

     "Don't underestimate her, Stark. She's killed over two dozen heavily guarded men under 24/7 security protection." Natasha said sternly, from her position at the bus stop on the sidewalk below, face buried in a newspaper.

     "She doesn't look like much, though." Clint agreed, a lethal arrow trained on your forehead every moment.

     "She can't be over twenty, guys." Tony argued, scoffing as you set down your empty cup, foot tapping on the ground impatiently.

     "No more chit chat," Steve interrupted, scoldingly. "Focus."

     "Yes, si-" Tony's mocking remark was cut off abruptly as you arose with equal suddenness, slinging your backpack over your shoulders as you walked to the exit, evidently giving up on whoever you were supposed to meet.

     "She's moving," Natasha hissed, "Get in position."

     You only paused once to toss the empty cup into the trash, shooting a disdainful look at the clock once more before pushing the door open, silver bells jangling happily in the sunshine. It was the time of day when the commotion in the streets was at a lull, when cars were few but pedestrians many.

     You knew that Strucker had chosen this location on purpose, because the overwhelming amount of innocents would cause hesitation on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s part if they did decide to attack. So HYDRA had resorted to selecting public places in which to send you orders, lest you did somehow get caught.

     Not that it ever happened, nor ever would happen. HYDRA knew that. They were, after all, the ones who had forcibly snatched you off the streets and bestowed upon you both a blessing and curse.

     The power to contort the perception of reality was a deadly one, and it always left behind gaping pits for eyes and a spidery web of black veins, stark against the victim's skin. This common link between the assassinations were what S.H.I.E.L.D. had used to link the murders.

     Your very own trademark, as Strucker liked to call it. 

     Now, as you strode quickly down the street and towards the nearest safe house, to contact HYDRA for orders, small oddities caught your attention.

     You weren't like the Winter Soldier, one of HYDRA's greatest secrets, who was meant to stand out in the midst of a crowd, though he had no need to, because he only ever assassinated. You were an asset meant to blend in, to merge with the rest, and slip away in secret.

     The scarlet haired woman sitting at the bus stop across the street was on page 4 of her newspaper.

     And she had been on page 4 ten minutes ago.

     You casually strolled over, crossing the street like a good citizen, waiting for the light to turn green and signal the all safe to cross. The woman made no movement, nor gave any indication that she had noticed you drawing closer, but your fingers tightened on the gun concealed in your jeans, ready to fire at a moment's notice.

     You took a seat beside her on the bench, showing no sign of strangeness or being out of the ordinary. Your eyes were relaxed, as though you were simply just another person out to enjoy the lovely weather while it lasted on a Saturday.

     The woman, whose identity you were beginning to piece together, as hazy memories of a file of enemies to watch out for rose out of your mind's watery depths.

     The moment her name fell into place was the moment she snapped into action, reaching for a hidden gun as well.

     "Natasha Romanoff." you growled, realization lighting up your features as you flipped yourself off the bench, a scream spreading through the surrounding crowd as they caught sight of the guns you two were holding to each other.

     "They warned me about you," you smirked, circling her slowly. "They told me that you would be...difficult."

     "Who's they?" she demanded, drawing closer, "Who do you work for?"

     You only laughed, harsh and bitter, as Iron Man flew out of a window, repulsors fired up and ready to go. You were willing to bet that Hawkeye was concealed somewhere nearby, and Captain America would be close by as well.

     "Stand down, kid." Tony Stark warned, voice projected by the suit. You only scoffed at the thought, taking steps back.

      You decided to fire the gun at Natasha one second before a man with a shield tackled you, knocking the breath out of your lungs as you scrambled to your feet, gasping.

     "Stand down, I repeat, stand down." Steve Rogers said sternly, shield at the ready.

     You turned a glare on him, on all of them, the team of 'Avengers' that were surrounding you, and Strucker's words came ringing back once more.

     The Avengers are, as idiotic as they are, not a group to be underestimated. Proceed with caution if you engage.

     A twisted smirk stole over your face at the words as the world around you melted away into one of illusions.

     "What's happening?" Steve shouted in alarm, as dozens of creatures appeared to come up from the ground itself, assembling to form grotesque, twitching bodies of darkness. They attacked with a vicious, deadly purpose, carrying crude weapons of bone. Others flew above, intent on drawing Iron Man out of the sky.

     "What are these things?" Natasha exclaimed, shooting one in the head, or where it should have been, had it possessed features. It only continued on, moving closer, a deep, terrible groan emerging from it's mouth.

     "There's too many of them, and they can't be killed!" Tony yelled back, blasting them out of the sky. They only came back, however, with a ruthless malice.

     You were smiling, more than delighted at the scene playing out before you; the oh so mighty Avengers, helpless to your illusions.

     You stole away in the midst of the chaos, creatures of your own making hiding you as you ran, the Avengers paying no attention as they fought futilely against monsters that were seemingly undefeatable, because they never were.

     It was only once you were several blocks away that the illusion melted away, leaving behind panting, exhausted Avengers, fighting empty air, and a failed mission.

Part two will be up shortly. I decided to try this type of imagine out, and I'm sort of curious where it's taking me, but I have hope! Comment if you don't like it, and comment if you do!