Apex Avenger: Shadow Soldier

Ch 3

The Avengers make it back to their facility after the standoff in the airport. Natasha hasn't said a word the whole ride back. They walk into the living room to regroup.

"HYDRA! She's working for HYDRA!" Rhodey exclaims in disbelief.

"They are obviously mind controlling her." Bucky says as they all start to take some seats.

Tony goes over to the mini bar.

"Did you guys find her?" Jasper pants as he runs to the living room.

"I guess you can say that." Sam sighs.

"Well where is she?" Jasper asks looking through the others trying to find a familiar face.

"She isn't here." Vision says softly.

Jasper looks down then walks away with his still head down. The others look at the small dog sadly.

"Her eyes were completely black." Steve says getting everyone's attention.

"What did you see?" Natasha asks Wanda.

"Nat-" Clint tries.

"What did you see?" She repeats the question her eyes glossy.

"Everything Apex or Shadow said...was true, even the quote.." Wanda says and they hear a smash.

They turn to see Tony and the broken glass he threw.

"Tony.." Bruce says going to his friend.

Tony holds his hand up stopping him and walks away to his room. Natasha wipes her eyes even though no tears have fallen yet.

"What else?" She asks placing her hands together.

"I saw explicit imagery." Wanda says.

"You have to be specific Wanda." Steve says even though he's not going to like what he's going to hear.

"She was..*sighs* tied to a chair beaten and that woman that was with her walked in began...touching her, straddling her lap. Apex resisted at first but got tased so she gave in. The woman then began to have her way with Apex taking off her pants.." Wanda tears up after everything she saw in Apex's memories.

A tear slips down Natasha face but she's quick to wipe it away.

"Anything else?" Clint asks.

Wanda hesitates closing her eyes shaking her head as tears stream down her cheeks.

"Wanda.." Steve says knowing she's holding back.

A small sob comes from her lips.

"I saw when she transitioned from Apex to Shadow" She cries "it was sad. The way her eyes changed." She wipes her eyes trying to regroup but failed.

"I should've stopped her that night. I should've made her stay here." Clint gets up.

"You didn't know this was going to happen." Steve says.

"But if I did stop her she would be here annoying me." He gets up "we would be fighting side by side not against each other." He runs his hand through his hair.

Natasha gets up and walks away. No one says anything as she leaves.

"What do we do now?" Thor asks breaking his silence.

"We try to get that collar thing off, I think that's what's controlling her." Steve looks up at everyone left in the room.

"She's in deep we have to be careful." Bucky says.

"I don't care that's my friend and I'll go hell and back for her." Clint says then leaves the room.

"Get some rest everyone, we'll regroup tomorrow." Steve says and also leaves.

Clint goes to Natasha's room to check on his friend. He knocks on the door but gets no answer. He knocks again knowing she's in there.

"Nat it's me can I come in?" He asks.

"Leave me alone Clint." Natasha says.

"I miss her too..we'll get her back Nat." He says from the door.

She opens the door with glossy eyes letting him in. They sit down.

"We made eye contact.." She tells him.

"Before she left the lot she turned back and looked at me." She continues.

"Apex is still in there we are going to snap her out of it." Clint says optimistic.

"This is all my fault." Natasha says.

"Nat-"

"I rejected her and pushed her away. Now she's gone all because of me." She says.

"When I tried to get the briefcase back I told her I didn't want to hurt her she seemed unfazed she wanted to hurt me." She says.

"That's not Apex that's Shadow that wants to hurt us." He says.

"We will get her back." Clint encourages.

"I hope so because I don't know what I'll do if we don't." She says looking down.