Chapter Text
In the opening scene of Age of Ultron, during the attack on the HYDRA compound, Strucker leaves the twins locked up in cages that prevent them from using their gifts, so they do not join the battle. Clint is not shot, and Thor finds the cages and brings them to the jet without releasing the twins. Cap enters the compound and stumbles upon a small cell that holds a single prisoner.
“Who the fuck is this?” Tony demanded the moment he entered the Quinjet with the scepter. Steve stepped protectively in front of the woman in question, who was wrapped in a blanket and had her feet drawn up underneath her in the seat. She clutched a bottle of water in her hand and took a small sip every few seconds. “She was a prisoner – I found her in a cell. She’s American and says she hadn’t been there long.”
Tony snorted, “And you trusted her? Why isn’t she in a cage like these two?” he gestured toward the twins at the back of the jet. “She didn’t attack me, Tony,” Steve replied firmly, “and she’s weak and hungry. She said she’s only been there a couple of days and Strucker captured her – she had no idea who he was or what he was planning to do to her.”
Tony had been uploading the files from the compound while Steve talked and began flicking through the 3-D images. “Well, let’s see what he has to say about her. Ah! Here we are: Terra Magna Whitman, 30 years old, from Coarsegold, California. Natural Abilities: Nature Witch,” he glanced at Cap triumphantly, “Potential Enhanced Abilities: Undetermined. Background: Abandoned in a dumpster as an infant,” even Tony looked somewhat abashed at announcing that to the group, but he moved on quickly, “wearing nametag, undetermined heritage. Adopted by Whitman family, no siblings, parents deceased. Occupation: Habitat restoration.”
Tony spun away from the display to face the woman. She was tiny – barely five feet tall, if he were to guess, and had dirty brown hair pulled back from her face in what had been a tight braid before strands had worked themselves loose and tangled around her face. She had a medium-brown complexion, possibly Latina, and pretty features but Tony was looking for any indication as to what “nature witch” implied. “Wanna show us your party tricks, Hermione?” he asked, and she narrowed her eyes in confusion.
Steve sighed and knelt in front of her. “What Tony means to say is, can you explain what the file meant by ‘nature witch’? Does that mean you have some kind of special abilities?” She glanced around the interior of the jet, and then down at the bottle in her hand. As they watched, the water floated up and out of the bottle, hovering in a mass in the air. Tony stepped closer and eyed it. “Is that it? Telekinesis?” She shook her head, “No, the water is the only thing in this space I can manipulate,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“So . . . you can manipulate water?” Tony sounded unimpressed. “Can you do anything useful with it, or just make it float?” The water suddenly flew toward his face and drenched his head before he could duck. Thor’s laugh burst out freely, as did Natasha’s, while everyone else tried to hide it.
“Oh, that’s hilarious,” Tony snapped, wiping his face on his shirt. “Very mature. But hey, at least I know you’re not angling for a spot on the team. Something tells me terrorists won’t be particularly afraid of a dunking.”
Thor crossed his arms and eyed Terra. “It’s not just water she can manipulate,” he said evenly, “am I right?” She met his eyes and studied him for a minute before nodding. “Natural materials,” she rasped, “but this death trap doesn’t have anything other than water.” Tony flicked his wrist and summoned a piece of his suit. “So titanium isn’t a natural material?” he sneered, “some of us did get through high school chemistry, sweetheart.”
“It’s a titanium alloy,” she responded quietly, “not found in nature. And I don’t do well with metals as much as wood, soil, plants, water, and some types of rock.” The jet was silent for a moment as they processed this. “How did you know?” Steve finally asked Thor, who shrugged, “such a thing exists on Asgard, and in other realms, though it’s not common. They have different names, and a variety of talents, but generally they can manipulate natural elements. Some can control the weather, others fire, others earth and plants. My own powers are distantly related so I can sense hers to a certain extent.”
Terra nodded, “I have a little control over weather in spaces where I’ve worked the earth extensively,” she said. “But other than that, I’m mostly good at growing things.” Tony turned back to his computer with a snort. “Alright, color me bored with this conversation. I’ve got more important things to focus on, like the piece of technology we came halfway around the world for.” The conversation shifted to Thor’s plan to take the scepter back to Asgard, and Tony’s bid for a few days to study it.
Terra watched the group interact in a daze. She was hungry and tired, but mostly relieved to be out of the cell. It had been a terrifying three days since she’d been captured while working on a wetlands restoration project in Yugoslavia. She’d been alone, as always, staying under the radar, when Strucker’s men had snatched her. She didn’t even have an opportunity to fight back before they’d snapped plastic zip ties around her wrists and ankles, duct-taped her mouth, and thrown her in a jet. She’d never had a chance.
She knew of the Avengers, of course, and would normally have been in awe of the group, but she was so startled by the quick turn of events that she didn’t have a chance to think through what was happening before Tony Stark (!) was firing questions at her. She realized she’d drenched his face in water , and almost cried. It had been an impulsive move, born out of frustration and fatigue, and she was mortified. She’d have to apologize as soon as she had a chance to speak with him alone.
_______
Tony circled the scepter as JARVIS began the scans, watching the readouts. He had a feeling that whatever powered the scepter would have incredible potential for AI, if Loki’s success at mind control with Barton was any indication. The readout was going to take ages, but he was too anxious to leave JARVIS to it, and began scrolling through the HYDRA base files again, until he heard a soft throat clearing, and glanced up.
The woman – make that ‘nature witch’ – from the jet was standing in the doorway, looking nervous, and Tony crossed his arms, hoping she was intimidated. He wasn’t quite over the whole water-to-the-face incident, despite the fact that she’d obviously been traumatized by her experience. She had showered, and her long hair was still wet, but it appeared that Pepper had loaned her some clothes. The sweats were rolled up, as were the sleeves of the shirt to fit her tiny frame, and it made her look even smaller.
“I just wanted to apologize for my behavior on the plane,” she said quietly. “I wasn’t really thinking straight, and just acted on instinct.” He raised an eyebrow, “Your instinct is to fling things at my face?” She reddened and shook her head. “I just felt a little defensive, I guess. It was a shock, going from the cell to the jet, and I’d been locked up for three days, not knowing what was going on.”
Tony frowned, “Did Maria debrief you about what happened while you were at the base?” Terra nodded in affirmation, and he turned back to the table. “She said she wants me to stay here for the time being, so they can ‘evaluate’ me. I was hoping . . . I was hoping you could override that decision.”
Tony barked a laugh and looked back at her. “Are you under the impression that we’re friends? Let me enlighten you, Glinda. I call the shots in this building and, quite frankly, wherever else I want. But anything I don’t want to deal with, which includes you? That falls to Steve and Maria. So your ass is stuck here until they want you to leave. And quite frankly, there are worse prisons like, I don’t know, the one you just came from. Do you see all this?” he gestured around at the state-of-the-art technology surrounding them, “I’d think twice before complaining about being stuck in Stark Tower, sweetheart.”
Maria Hill appeared in the doorway, watching their conversation curiously, and Terra had been determined to rein in her attitude, but his elitist snark was really rubbing her the wrong way. “Not everyone enjoys being surrounded by glass and plastic,” she snapped, and he arched an eyebrow at her again. “Oh I’m sorry,” he said with mock sympathy, “I forgot that wood and dirt are your materials of choice. Let me find you a spot in the root cellar so you can be comfortable. For fuck’s sake, get over yourself.”
She clenched her teeth in frustration, and crossed her arms, feeling foolish in the overly large clothing. “I don’t do well indoors,” she said tersely, “it has nothing to do with preferences. I’m sure you feel the same anytime you go outside – like you’re a fish out of water? Much more comfortable in your self-worshipping shrine.”
Tony looked over at Maria, who’d been leaning against the wall while they spoke. “Did you need her?” he asked. “Please say that you need her, because she’s outstayed her welcome here.” Maria was strangely silent, and Terra glanced back and forth between them as Tony’s face moved from annoyed to concerned. Maria was focused on Terra with an odd expression on her face, and Terra felt like she was pinned to the spot.
Suddenly, Tony flicked his wrist out and his Iron Man suit handpiece slammed into place. He sent a blast toward Maria and Terra jumped out of the way. The blast seemed to bounce off of the woman, and to her horror, Terra realized that another Maria was standing in the doorway. The second Maria pulled out a gun and shot toward the woman still staring at Terra, but the bullets dropped in midair. Tony was moving again and shouting, but all Terra could do was watch golden streams flow from the false Maria’s hands toward Terra’s feet. They wound themselves around her legs, moving up her body and spreading warmth throughout her bloodstream. She couldn’t move, just stared in horror and confusion as the false Maria’s eyes flashed green before she disappeared into thin air.
Terra crumpled to the ground just as Steve, Thor, and Natasha burst in. Steve started toward her, but Tony stepped in front of him, now in the complete Iron Man suit. “She did something to her,” he said, “they might be coordinating an attack.” Terra looked at him in disbelief, but everyone backed away from her obediently. “Who was that?” Tony asked. Terra shook her head, “I have no idea,” she replied. “I thought it was Maria, but she kept staring at me, and then this gold stuff came out of her hands and sort of went into me.”
The group looked at her suspiciously for a beat as she climbed to her feet, and then Thor rolled his eyes. “She’s not a threat,” he said, striding toward her, past Tony. “But she might be injured.” Terra was a little amazed at how easily he brushed Iron Man, and any possible threat, aside and took charge. Thor was amazing in general, actually, and she felt a little dazed looking at him. He was more beautiful than any person had a right to be, and she willed herself not to blush under his scrutiny but his eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at her neck. He pulled the collar of her oversized shirt to the side, and frowned, then pushed up her sleeves to her elbows.
Gold marks were etched in the skin around her wrists and curving partly up her forearms. Terra stared in horror at the design, which she’d never seen before. “What . . . what is that?” she cried, backing away from Thor. She yanked up her shirt and saw similar marks around her waist, and she suspected they must be on her neck, based on Thor’s reaction. She tugged up her pant legs and saw them around her ankles, though they swirled to a stop mid-calf. She stared in terror at the Avengers, who looked bewildered. Tony had stepped out of his suit and strode toward her, pulling her hand into his and tracing the lines with his finger.
“Anyone recognize these signs?” he asked tightly, but everyone shook their heads. Banner had entered the room and joined Tony in front of Terra. “I don’t know enough about it, but I’m sure we can get an expert in pictographic languages down here to decipher it. The bigger question is how it was embedded in her skin, and whether it harbors any power.” He reached out to touch the mark, but Terra yelped as his finger met her skin and he jerked back. “That hurt?” he asked, and she nodded. Tony was still grasping her arm and looked at Banner in confusion. “Try again,” he said, and Bruce gave Terra an apologetic glance, before brushing the palm of her hand lightly with his finger. She jerked away, as a sting ran through her body.
“Sorry!” she gasped, “it stings, like an insect or ice or something. Sharper than a static shock.” Banner stepped away, and motioned Natasha forward. “Try touching her,” he said. “Tony, let go. Maybe it has to do with you and not her.” Tony dropped her hand, and Natasha pressed a finger to Terra’s arm. Again, she jerked back in pain. Tony pressed his entire palm to her forearm and she felt nothing but the warmth from his skin seeping into her. It was almost comforting, the exact opposite of Bruce and Natasha’s touch.
“Alright,” Steve said, taking charge. “Let’s move this up to the penthouse. We need space, and I think Terra needs to sit down.” She followed him gratefully as he took her up one flight of stairs and into a spacious living area with comfortable couches and chairs scattered around. She waited until others had found their favorite spots, and then curled in a chair, shaken. Tony paced back and forth in front of the bar after pouring himself a large whiskey.
“Loki,” he finally said, staring at Thor. “It had to be him.” Thor shook his head sadly, “I told you, Loki died,” he said firmly, “if not, I’d be the first to agree with you, but I saw it with my own eyes, as did Jane.” Tony barked a humorless laugh. “Please. If there was one guy in the universe who was going to fake his own death, it would be your brother. And I can’t think of anyone else who can make themselves look like someone else and do magic, can you?”
Maria Hill, who had been fairly quiet since the incident, spoke up. “The Kree can take on other appearances,” she said. “I don’t know of any of them doing magic, but it’s not out of the question.” Tony threw back the rest of his drink and poured another one. “And how do we get in touch with this Kree?” he asked pointedly. Maria looked uncomfortable. “I’ll talk to Fury,” she said evasively, and the group collectively groaned.
“I think the bigger question,” Steve said, “is what this spell does. There’s no way it’s just causing a sting when someone touches her skin. Or someone other than Tony, which is pretty weird. Tony, you don’t have any markings, right? Did you feel anything?” Tony put his glass down and yanked up his sleeves. “Nothing. I did see something coming toward me, but it looked like the suit absorbed it, right at the arc reactor. Felt kind of warm.” He tapped his chest, and Pepper, who’d been watching the discussion, tugged the neck of his shirt down. There, right between his collarbones, above the scar where his arc reactor used to sit, was a single golden rune.
The room stared at it in silence for a minute, while Tony gaped at his own chest. Pepper pressed a hand to it, and he jerked back. “That . . . stings,” he said in a ragged voice. “Does this hurt?” Pepper asked, pointing to where her hand was wrapped around his forearm, and he shook his head. “Not at all, just when you touched the mark.”
The discussion around her raged, but Terra tuned all of it out. She focused on the gold stamped on her wrists, tracing the marks with her forefinger. They weren’t raised at all – it was like a perfect tattoo embedded into her skin. They didn’t hurt when she or Tony touched them, and she didn’t feel much different, but she knew there had to be more to it than that, especially if Tony also had a mark.
She finally registered that Pepper Potts was standing in front of her and looked up into the older woman’s face. “I think you need some sleep,” she said kindly, “this isn’t going to get solved today.” Terra nodded, and rose to her feet, following Pepper into the hallway without a word to anyone else. They got in the elevator and Pepper looked at Terra sympathetically. “I’m so sorry that you’re dealing with this,” she said sadly, punching a button for a lower level, “but if anyone can figure it out, it’s Tony, especially with Bruce’s help.”
Terra started to reply but felt an ache in her stomach as the elevator descended through the building, which intensified quickly. She doubled over, holding her arm over the pain, and Pepper reached out toward her in concern but jerked back when Terra yelped at her touch. She hit the emergency button to stop the elevator, and Terra sank to the ground. “Sorry,” she gasped, “it just hurts.” Pepper pressed a button to take them back to the penthouse, and as the elevator rose, the pain dissipated, completely fading by the time they were on the lab level, just below the top floor.
Pepper’s face remained neutral, but Terra could tell she was worried. She hurried back through the hallway to the living quarters, and the discussion fell silent as they appeared in the doorway. “What is it?” Bruce asked, at the look on Pepper’s face. “Once we get more than a floor away, she’s in pain,” she said tightly. “Maybe it’s a spell that traps her here?”
“Or that binds her to Tony,” Clint offered, and everyone shifted uncomfortably as his words sank in. “It does make sense,” Banner admitted, “with the mark on his chest. Though why , I don’t know. They don’t even know each other, and their being in the same room was completely random.” Tony’s eyes flew to Terra. “Was it?” he asked accusingly, “or were you intentionally there, knowing that this was going to happen?” Terra shook her head, exhausted and afraid.
“I have no idea what’s happened,” she said quietly, “and I hardly think I’d arrange to put myself in pain just to irritate you. It seems more like a punishment for me, don’t you think?” Tony glared at her but didn’t disagree, and Pepper rubbed his back soothingly. “Why don’t we all retire for the night, and I’ll get Terra set up on the couch?” she said. “I think we’ll have a better sense of how to deal with this in the morning.”
It took a bit for everyone to clear out, but one of the many staff members at Stark Tower brought blankets and pillows, and Pepper made up a bed on the couch. “I’m so sorry there isn’t another bed,” she said apologetically, “but there are so many guest rooms elsewhere, I never thought to have anything up here.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Terra said weakly, “honestly, I’ve been sleeping on the floor for three days so this looks amazing. And thank you for being so kind.” Pepper smiled at her sympathetically and then disappeared into the bedroom, where Terra could hear Tony talking to her a mile a minute. She was tired enough that it didn’t really register though, and dropped off within minutes.