Melioration ~ James Buchanan Barnes

OO5 ~ Trickery

'A warrant seems a bit much, right? There is nothing here that he would want besides more weapons.' That lying bastard. 'Alright. Enough of me pretending that I don't know what you have here. I know it's Loki's Scepter. I've always known it is and it surprises me it's not in Asgard, given to Thor when he took his brother with him.' It's strange it's still here but that makes it easier for you to get your hands on it.

'Alright. Yes! We have Loki's Scepter here but only for research. Bruce Banner is studying it as we speak and let me tell you, Mariah. It's amazing what we've learned from it. The blue stone at the top for example isn't just a blue stone. It's one of the Infinity Stones and is originally yellow like coloured. We're dealing with the Mind-Stone. This particular stone can brainwash people and bend them to your will.' Yes, stop talking. You already know that. 

'I want to see it. I need to make a report and let the government know you keep it here.' He squints his eyes a little but accepts, asking you to follow him towards the lab on the first floor. Everywhere you look in the hall there are signs of a fight but you let it rest. You don't want to waste more time here than you have to. 

Once arrived in the lab, you can see Bruce Banner thoroughly investigating this odd object with the untouchable stone. Only beings with great power can hold them without dying. 'It looks beautiful.' You say like you don't know how damaging the power can be. 'Looks can be deceiving.' Tony says while standing really close to you, feeling his breath hitting your ear. Oh crap. He might be onto you.

'Who are you really, Mariah?' He now speaks the name out with disbelief, as if it can't be your name. 'I told you, Tony.' You speak his name the same way. 'I am with the department of defense.' Your plan will go to hell if he finds out you're not really with the government. 

'You're not. I know for a fact that they wouldn't care that the Avengers have it and they wouldn't lie not knowing about it to begin with.' Oh how you want to grab his throat and choke him until he is dead at your feet. But you will cause commotion with it and probably hulkify Bruce over there, who is now also triggered and has lost his focus on the Scepter. 

'You better tell me or there will be consequences.' There is no way out and there is no other way than to come clean. But you don't want to. The Scepter is so close and if you can grab it then you  overpower them already. You can even force them to release James. 

So you decide to act on it, taking a leap to grab the Scepter. Unfortunately, Bruce is faster and snatches it out of the stand right before you can. 'Fuck!' Although you have to be careful around him, you just want to shoot him until he is dead. So to make that possible, you reach for the gun under your jacket, only to find out that the holster is empty. 

'Looking for this?' Tony smugly grins at you while holding your gun. He tosses it to Bruce who doesn't hesitate in pointing it at you along with the Scepter. 'Who are you? For real this time!' He takes a few steps closer but you don't move a muscle. 'Last chance. Who are you?' He pushes you against the lab table and blocks you in with both arms. He's standing a tad bit too close for your taste but you can't get out. Fighting him isn't wise either since there is another man in the room and he's pointing two deadly weapons at you.

'Fine! My name is {y/n} {y/l/n} and I'm here to steal Loki's Scepter from you along with freeing the assassin I send.' You keep the fact out that you're with Hydra but you think they know that if you send James, that you're Hydra.

And you are right. 'Ah, a Hydra operative. Doesn't it feel so much better to be honest?' Is he for real? 'No.. I could have done this if you didn't grow suspicious.' You hate yourself for failing. You never fail! You guess they're not that dumb after all. 

'Alright. Come. I'm guessing Nick Fury wants to speak with you.' Ah crap. He knows everything there is to know about you and he is the last person you want to talk to. You're cursing under your breath and let him take you out of the room and towards the highest floor where you're tossed into an interrogation room and onto a chair. Tony cuffs you to the table before leaving you all alone. You feel like a convict and you hate it. 

You just can't understand why you failed.