june 2016

The asset padded down the corridor, following the sound of metal clanging on metal, the sound of Tony's sharp orders to his mechanical friends, and the occasional string of curses that fell from his lips after a failed experiment. She smirked as she silently snuck up on the billionaire. It had been a few weeks of staying here and infiltrating Iron Man's defenses, and she had yet to make her first move. She could hear a clock ticking in her head as the days went on, slowly but surely counting down to her victim's inevitable fate.

She'd spent all of the previous weeks gently playing the part of a lost woman looking for a place to call home. Just a poor, defenseless girl in a woman's body. But the strength and sheer power of will that coursed through Asset 53's veins strongly suggested otherwise.

Shaking her head, she rid her mind of the fogginess that still lingered from the cryo pills that she took every night. The small green things sure had a kick to them, letting her embrace the cool wave that washed over her every time they slid down her throat. Not as promising as the real thing, but it was enough to do the job and keep her mind fresh for the next day of her mission.

For a moment, she longed for her cryo chamber, her concrete-walled cell of a bedroom, and even Mr. Smith, the man she used to practice different torture methods on. With a twinge of sadness, she tried to usher his face to her mind, but it was nearly impossible. All she saw was a blurry face in the middle of a forest, a shadow cast over the features, keeping it hidden from view.

The sight shook up the asset, and she blinked a few times to get herself back on track. She was almost upon her target's lab, and she had to be free of all conflicting thoughts in order to execute this deed. Must have been a faulty pill last night, she brushed it off. Happens all the time.

As she crept to the edge of the doorway and surveyed the scene, she crossed her arms and scrutinized the area.

She was no scientist, but she suspected that even the most brilliant ones didn't have as much of a mess littering their labs as Tony Stark did. Papers fluttered from shelves when a robot—or machine, she didn't know—rolled its way past. The sheets of paper were hardly in neat piles, nor did she think that was the point. Organized chaos was not a phrase she could use in this situation. It was turbulent chaos.

Coffee cups had been tossed on the floor after being emptied of their contents, styrofoam takeout containers were stacked by the far-too-small garbage can, seemingly the only organization in the large room. Pieces of metal, presumably parts for a model for his suits or other weapons, were scattered on the tables, most of them laying on odd angles, unfinished. Others were standing upright, an arm here, a foot there, all built out of what looked like scrap metal, painted bright colors of shining red and shimmering gold.

The asset took note of just how many models he seemed to be making. It was like he was building an army.

And in the middle of it all stood the one and only target of the biggest mission of her life. Tony Stark.

His head was bent over the table he was working at, hovering over what looked like...well, the asset couldn't tell. It was far different than what she'd seen on the other tables. This was not made of metal, this was some kind of rubbery material. And instead of red and gold, she caught stripes of blue and black, with red pulling it all together.

She'd done the most observing she could without talking. The only way she would get more information to bring back to Hydra would be if she started playing the role she'd been instructed to. "What are you making?" She opened her mouth, letting the words float from her lips like a sweet love song.

He jumped at the sound of her voice. "Holy shit, Jack," he said, dropping the pile of rubber back on the table, letting the pliers in his hand clang on the metal surface. "You sure know how to sneak up on a man."

Asset 53 smirked at the nickname he'd been calling her consistently over the past few weeks. That's going to make it so much better when I dig my dagger into his gut, across his throat, gouge out his eyes—

Hold on, she scolded herself. Don't get caught up in the means just yet. Focus on your mission while he's alive. She would have another month to decide what to do with him once she got him where she needed him. Right under her thumb, willing to do anything for her.

Shrugging, she stepped into the room and dropped her arms to her sides. "I can be quiet when I want to be, I guess." Getting a little closer, she made a point at looking at the pile of colors, realizing it formed some type of...suit? "What is that?"

Tony looked down at the suit, eyes widening as if in the realization that it was still sitting out in plain view. Hastily shoving it underneath the table onto a shelf, he stood up and wiped his hands free of it. "Just messing around with stuff, as I do," he responded quickly. "Where's Happy? I wanted to ask him about...something. Avengers stuff."

The asset's ears perked up. Now, that was interesting. "Oh, Avengers?" She winked at him, her interest piqued. "Do tell, Mr. Stark."

Luckily for her, the genius in front of her was too hung up on her use of his last name to think of what she was asking. "Uh...the ship's are hitting some rocky waters, that's all. I've got a meeting with the Secretary of State later today, so I'm just burning time while I'm waiting."

Tucking away that knowledge to ponder on later, Asset 53 felt invisible hands curl their way around his arm, clawing toward his heart. "Well, that's awfully boring. Want to burn time together?" She took another step closer so she was standing on the opposite side of the table, fingers splayed out on the surface in front of her. Leaning in, she was close enough to see the dilating pupils in his eyes. Just like it'll be when I see the light leave those same eyes, she thought mercilessly.

Tony paused, studying her face. "You know, I—"

"Tony!"

Judging by Tony rolling his eyes and allowing a lopsided grin to grow on his lips, the man that interrupted their moment was none other than Happy Hogan, the man he'd been looking for.

The asset tried to keep her annoyance from showing. She was so close to something good, something worth reporting back to her superiors, but the pudgy chauffeur, or assistant, or whatever the hell he was, had to go and mess it up.

Seething, Asset 53 closed her eyes before turning around. You will get another chance. You will make sure of it, she vowed to herself.

Tony was walking over to meet Happy at the door, saying something about not wanting people to interrupt his time in the lab. "It messes up my ideas, I need to have my alone time, Happy. Solitude is healthy sometimes, Happy. What season of Downton Abbey are you on? Shouldn't you be catching up?"

Happy rolled his eyes. "She's allowed to be in here." He pointed an accusing finger at the asset.

When he hesitated to respond, just staring at her with a small grin on his face, the asset knew she'd already begun to dig her claws into him. "Well, that's an extenuating circumstance. She's shockingly sneaky."

This did nothing to keep Happy's suspicions about her at bay. He narrowed his eyes. Then, he turned to Tony and mumbled, "We have to go. We have an important meeting with an important someone for an important something."

The asset crossed her arms. "So you can skip it, right? I want to get ice cream."

Iron Man's right-hand man glared at her. "Very funny."

Tony chuckled. "Happy, loosen your asshole, would you? You need to let loose sometime." He ushered the two of his companions out of the lab and into the hallway, apologizing to the asset. "Jack, it seems that our ice cream run has to wait until I get back. But don't worry, we'll do it. I promise." Winking at her, he pulled a pair of tinted sunglasses out of his pocket and put them on his face, waving and proceeding to follow Happy to the elevator.

"Don't break anything," he called. "FRIDAY's watching you."

She had no idea what that meant. But with the man of the house gone, she had the first opening since she'd gotten there. She could look through all his plans, every room in this damned tower. She had to do it fast, but she was faster than most. Like a cheetah stalking its prey.

It was time to hunt.

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sorry so sorry this is so late sorry i can't believe sorry this is so sorry late sorry

did i apologize enough

i hope so

hope you enjoyed, love y'all!

published on: apr. 9, 2019