SINS-CHAPTER FIVE; Build-a-body

Cain watches Ultron approach Dr. Cho through the lab windows. He already evacuated her staff with telepathy and was nursing a painful headache.

     "Don't bother screaming, there isn't anyone here to help you." Ultron mocks before narrowing his eyes on Cho. "I could've killed you, Helen, the night we met. I didn't." Cho scoffs.

     "Do you expect a thank you note?"

     "I expect you to know why." Ultron retorts. Cain studies the robot's ever move. Every little flex with his coal black eyes. The twins are off to the side of the hall of the research center, staring at Cain curiously. Something in his behavior had changed. Wanda could feel it. Where there was once pure rage, was now a hesitant anger. As if he was letting go of his fury. They didn't blame him. Ultron had Wanda endanger innocent lives by unleashing the Hulk.

      "The Cradle." Cho gasps. Ultron plays a recording of her from earlier when she was talking to Tony.

      "This is the next thing, Tony."

      "This... is the next me." Ultron states dramatically. Cain narrows his eyes.

      "The cradle prints tissue, it can't build a whole fucking body from scratch." Cain inputs, having read Cho's research. Ultron sighs.

      "It can, she can." Ultron replies before facing Cho again. "You lack the materials. You're a brilliant woman, Helen. But we all have room to improve." He taps her with Loki's staff and puts her under his control. He took her free will away. Cain's eyes flicker to the light green hues before snapping back to black and he glares heatedly at Ultron.

      "You could've used force, threaten her, torture her... but you resort to brainwashing!?" Cain snaps, gaining Ultron's attention.

       "Don't project your issues onto this situation. She isn't you." Ultron answers back without care. He waves Cain off and turns his back on him. "Now go cool off, I can't deal with you when you're emotional." Cain's fingers twitch and there's a familiar burn on his skin where his mark is. A familiar itch. Cain's eyes slowly melt away until the green is back in place. A soft smile spreads across his lips.

     "You're right. I let my emotions get the best of me." Cain says calmly and in an even tone. He steps backwards, until he's in the doorway. Ultron slowly turns. "I joined you because I saw myself in you... but looking at you now," Cain flicks his gaze up and down, "you're just a sad, broken, whiny, little bitch." Cain lists, his voice becoming a sneer by the last word. He sees Ultron tense and the robot's shoulders go taut. "No, you're worse. You're a spoiled little brat that has daddy issues. So now, you're throwing a tantrum and running away from home because dear old daddy didn't love you enough." Ultron's red eyes start to glow the more Cain speaks. "You didn't even give him a chance to love you! You didn't even love him back! How's that for emotional you overgrown vibrator!?" Cain roars before disappearing into smoke.

CLINT'S HOUSE, LOCATION UNKNOWN

Cain manifests from black smoke back to flesh and bone in the surrounding forest of a large farmhouse. This was where he sensed Sta-Tony. Tony.

      "Okay... what do I do?" Cain mutters to himself, hiding behind a wide tree. He leans against it. "Just walk over there, knock on the door, and say 'Hey guys, sorry for betraying you but I'm back!'? Yeah, that'll work." Cain sighs heavily and looks down with guilt. "Would they even want me back?" Cain feels something wet on his face, something he hasn't felt in a long time.

Tears. Thin warm trails streaking down his host's cheeks. He blinks rapidly and more fall. A choked sound escapes his throat and he reaches up to cover his mouth. The tears slip over his hands and hit the forest ground silently. He gasps when he hears the unmistakable sound of wood cracking and peers around the tree to see Tony and Steve chopping wood outside the house. They're conversating too.

     "I don't like this." Tony huffs, struggling with the axe.

     "Hardwork?" Steve asks, performing the task easily by ripping the wood in half with his bare hands. Tony pouts and shoots him a glare.

     "No," Tony exhales and raises the axe above his head, "Cain. He's," He grunts as he brings the axe down, splitting wood, "he's one of my best friends. How can he just..." Tont struggles with words.

     "Betray us?" Steve offers. Tony glares at him once more.

     "He didn't betray us!" Tony argues, looking down with a scrunched up expression. Steve stops and looks over at the millionaire with concern and sympathy. He knew how close the two were. It was no secret that Cain had a soft spot for the billionaire. "He looked at us like we... we betrayed him." Tony looks at Steve. "Did you see his face? He was so angry, he was... was hurting." Tony looks off into the woods and Cain scurries behind the tree. "I wonder why..." Cain shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath. He reopens his eyes and steps out of the forest and heads over to the two who had gone back to chopping wood.

      "Is that a log I see or are you just happy to see me?" Cain awkwardly calls to them. Tony and Steve's heads shoot up and stare at the approaching demon in shock. Cain raises his right hand with a grimace. "...hey..."

     "Ultron?" Steve asks. Cain drops his hand and looks down.

      "I left him... I was... I was so stupid. I... Look, I have no excuse, alright? This whole fucking thing just hit a little too close to home so I...I'm sorry, alright?"

      "Cain..." Steve trails off, looking dow with knitted brows.

     "I'm sorry..." The tears were back and he was shaking. "Ultron, he reminded me of... well, me. When I killed my brother...the looks I got...the looks you gave him... and I, and I just, it was too much. I couldn't-I'm sorry. I'm-"

Tony pulls Cain into a strong embrace, tugging him into his arms roughly and wrapping his arms around the taller male's midsection. Cain's eyes widen before he immediately latches onto Tony like a lifeline. His arms are around his neck and he buries his face into the human's shoulders and weeps. He felt like a child again but he honestly didn't care. He couldn't even remember the last time someone held him like this.

     "It's okay. Everything is okay. I got you big guy, I got you." Tony whispers, rubbing his back as Cain's body is racked with sobs and he clings to Tony like the young do to their parents.

     "I'm so sorry Tony. I'm sorry."

Tony shushes him. "It's fine. You're okay." Tony lifts his right hand and cradles Cain's head. "I got you."