Chapter Text
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As time passed, the team found themselves gathered in the serene dining room, engaged in a productive conversation with Fury
As time passed, the team found themselves gathered in the serene dining room, engaged in a productive conversation with Fury. Alice occupied the seat across from Natasha, while Steve stood behind her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders in a supportive manner.
''Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time. My contacts say he is building something. The amount of Vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing .'' Nick took a glass and filled it up with some juice.
''What about Ultron himself?'' Steve asked.
''Ah, he is easy to track, he is everywhere. The guy is multiplying faster than a Catholic bunny. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans though.
''He is still going after launch codes?'' Tony asked from the other side of the room.
''Yes, he is, but he is not making any headway.'' The answer from Fury followed.
''I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare.'' Alice rolled her eyes, hearing her godfather's proud tone at his comment.
''Yeah, well, I contacted our friends at the NEXUS about that.''
''NEXUS?'' Steve and Alice asked at the same time.
''It's the world internet's hub in Olso, every byte of data flows through there, fastest access on earth.'' Bruce interrupted Nick to explain what NEXUS was.
''So what'd they say?'' Clint questioned.
''He is fixated on the missiles, but the codes are constantly being changed.''
''By whom?''
''Parties unknown.'' Fury shrugged.
''Do we have an ally?''
''Ultorn's got an enemy, that's not the same thing. Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is.''
''I might need to visit Olso, find the 'unknown','' Tony said.
''Well, these are good times, boss but I was kind of hoping when I saw you, you would have more than that,'' Natasha smirked as she spoke, turning to Fury, hoping for more information.
''You are not the only one, Nat.'' Alice sighed.
Steve's hands, which were behind her, began to massage her shoulders with soft and calm movements to relax her muscles from the pressure of the last few hours. The girl turned to face her boyfriend's angel figure, blowing a sweet kiss in appreciation for the thoughtful gesture.
''I do, I have you. Back in the day, I had eyes everywhere, and ears everywhere. I might not have Alice and her amazing magical abilities or any other wizard to see but I was able to acknowledge everything that was happening. Look at us now.''
All the members of the team glanced at each other. Alice, without looking at Steve, touched his gently his hand and smiled. It was obvious that if she hadn't come to New York and participated in all these missions, she wouldn't have met the lover of her life. So this team was something more than just a project that fought criminals. It was her chance to leave her life again and find that one important person who changed her life and turned her whole world upside down. She might be a witch but all these things were new to her. This world was new to her.
''Here we are all back on earth with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world. Except Alice of course.'' The girl laughed. ''Ultron says the Avengers are the only thing between him and his mission. And whether or not he admits it, his mission is a global destruction. All this laid in a grave. So stand outwit the platinum bastard.''
''Steve doesn't like this kind of talk.'' Natasha teased him.
''He likes it, but on other occasions, mainly personal and in other rooms of the house,''
''You know what, sweetheart?'' Steve replies, smirking. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered to her with a sensual tone in his voice that when it was all over, she would have to face the consequences of her words.
''So what does he want?'' Nick asked.
''It would be amazing to be able to read minds, but unfortunately, we don't have this ability.'' Clint joked. Just then, Steve whispered that they might have it, and immediately his gaze fell on his girlfriend.
''Steve no...''
''Alice-''
''I SAID NO.''
All the members of the team, including Laura and the kids, turned to look at the furious girl. Alice, noticing their looks full of fear, covered her face with both of her small hands while sighing.
Steve fell on his knees going to her level, he leaned close to her as his strong arm wrapped around her shoulders supportively. Stev,e hearing Tony ask again and again what was happening, took the chance and whispered to her right ear. ''Sweetheart, you have to tell them, they have the right to know.''
Alice sighed again, she courageously raised her head from the floor, looked them all in the eyes and without any trace of emotion, he said.
''I am legilimens. I found out a few days ago, but I have been my entire life. The new ability is that I can read minds, and sometimes I can even feel your emotions.''
''That means we have found our solution-''
''No, it won't work.''
Alice then explained that she might have had the ability her whole life, but she couldn't control it, she wasn't able to say ' I am going inside his mind right now' and magically see what the person, who was in front of her was thinking.
If she wasn't able to read Steve's mind, who stood right behind her, then not even the try of reading a robot's mind that was miles away from her would be worth it. Apart from that, Ultron was a robot, not a person; just because he behaved like one didn't mean he was one too.
''If Alice can't help us, then the question is still going. What does he want?''
''To become better than us. He keeps building bodies.''
''Person bodies,'' Tony said. The human form is inefficient. Biologically speaking, we are outmoded but he keeps coming back to it.''
A Tony continued to speak, Bruce examined the drαwing of a colourful butterfly Lily, Clint's daughter gifted to Natasha a few minutes ago. The little girl even gave one drαwing to Alice as well but it wasn't like Natasha's. The drawing featured a blue wolf that took up most of the paper. It seemed that the artist, Little Lily, was inspired by Alice's patronus, which she had created a few minutes earlier. The wolf had two figures riding on it, which Alice suspected were herself and the kind little girl who had given her the drawing.
''When you two programmed him to protect the human race you amazingly failed,'' Nat commented looking at the creators of their new enemy.
''They don't need to be protected. They need to be involved.'' Bruce muttered still looking at the butterfly.
''Ultron is going to involve.''
''How?'' Everyone's attention turned to Alice. ''How can he be involved more? He is already a robot who behaves like a human.'' Alice asked curious.
''Has anyone been in contact with Doctor Cho?''
''You don't mean...'' Alice asked.
''Yes. This is exactly what I mean.''
''And don't forget it's not the only one who should worry us,'' Fury said. ''He has by his side the twins.''
''The red witch is more dangerous,'' Bruce told them.
''She is not a witch. I would know it, feel it.''
''Alice-''
''No Nick. I know wizards and she is not one. We were born and neither of them was born with powers, I know that because when I had those dreams, it was before I found out my ability. I saw some memories of their past. HYDRA put those powers there. They are more of mutants than wizards.''
''Whatever they are, their abilities make them more powerful. More than us, so be careful.''
...
''I will take Natasha, Clint and Alice.'' Steve put his shield behind his back.
''Captain, please take care of my girl, she is the only thing I have,'' Tony begged him as he hugged Alice after she assured him Steve would protect her.
''Alright, Captain, strictly recon. I will hit the NEXUS, and I will join you as soon as I can.'' Tony told them.
''If Ultron is building a body-'' Alice started.
''He will be more powerful than any of us.'' Tony cut her. ''Maybe then all of us. An android designed by a robot.''
''You know I miss the days when the weirdest thing science ever created was me.'' Steve took Alice's hand, bringing it close to his lips and kissed it.
''I will drop Banner. Do you mind if I borrow Ms Hill?'' Fury joined their group and questioned while putting on his jacket.
''She is all yours, apparently. What are you gonna do?''
''I don't know. Something dramatic I hope.'' Fury joked.
All of them left after giving their goodbyes and thanking them for the hospitality to Laura. Clint's wife, standing on the outside railing of the house, watched them climb into the jet and then disappear into the clouds of the sunrise.
...
Steve gave clear orders to Natasha and Clint to stay inside the jet while he and Alice would try to find Helen.
Alice took one more look at Natasha, who nodded her head and teleported to the building with Steve's hand around her waist. The couple ran through the hallways of the building until they found Helen lying on the floor of her lap as a lake of blood surrounded her.
''Helen!'' Alice was the first one who screamed and ran immediately to her.
''Sweetheart can you help her?''
'' I'll try''
''Don't worry doctor you will be ok,'' Steve said as Alice cast spells to stop the bleeding and try to heal the wound.
''He is uploading himself into the body,'' Helen said with all the strength she had. ''The real power is inside the cradle. The gem, it's power is uncontainable. You can't just blow it up. You have to give the Cradle to Stark! Go now!''
''Alice will she be ok?''
''Yes, yes she will.''
''Thank you, Alice.'' Alice kissed her on the forehead and left with Steve.