Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

As Barton sat on the couch he was preparing his bow and arrows.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked tiredly. This was by far the most annoying assignment he had so far. He had to work with both a tempermental Black Widow and an annoyed relic.

Natasha nodded as she peeked out of the window, "yep, they were casing the place yesterday." Then she started double checking her equipment, "I recognized them as members of Magneto's Brotherhood."

"Magneto? Brotherhood?" Natasha looked over to the walking relic to see him in clothes that he could fight in. A basic set of jeans that were unrestrictive, combat boots, a loose button up shirt, a khaki jacket, and the only thing that could be remotely called equipment. His round vibranium shield with its red, white, and blue paint. "What are those?"

Natasha raised an eyebrow at his attire, "not gonna wear more comfortable equipment?"

Steve shook his head, "nope. I don't have any special equipment."

"Okay… Magneto is a mutant terrorist that is fighting for mutant rights through terrorism. The Brotherhood of Mutants is the group that works under Magneto. I am sure if it was solely up to Magneto they would have caused mass slaughter to make their point. Fortunately with advisers like Mystique they are far less destructive and dangerous." Natasha explained. Then she glanced out the window again. "They are here."

"Let's move." Barton stated as he stood up off the couch.

"Wait…" Natasha motioned as she watched a group of three walk up to the gate, she recognized each of them as members of the Brotherhood. But she also saw another group getting ready for a fight just out of view. "Looks like someone else is here as well. Since they are being so brazen I am guessing they did not notice us. To be fair we did not notice them either."

"Hmm… Okay let's move behind them and thin their numbers when they engage the enemy. Do the Brotherhood look like they will be able to hold out for a bit?" Steve asked.

Natasha nodded and narrowed her eyes as she watched an additional fourth shadow sneak into the facility over the back wall. "Blob, Toad, and Pyro. They will be able to hold off this other group. But I just saw someone sneak in through the back. While you help the Brotherhood, I will sneak into the facility."

Barton and Steve frowned, "they realized someone was watching and sent their people as a distraction. Is that desperation or confidence?"

"They probably plan to run after getting what they need." Barton explained. "It is a hit-and-run tactic typical of the Brotherhood."

"Meaning they have an escape plan and that what is inside can be easily carried." Nathasha further explained.

"Then I suppose we are racing against the clock. Let's move." Steve turned and left through the apartment door.

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"Now I figured we would be encountering someone. But who would you happen to be?" Pyro stated as he materialized a fireball from his lighter and lit a nearby piece of wood on fire. Which created a fire that lit the area illuminating the group in front of them.

One of the group stepped forward, he was draped in a black cloak and full black combat armor and gray mask. The design on the armor made it look like a skull. "Kid, where is the rest of the stuff you stole from us?" His threatening tone made it clear it wasn't a question but rather a demand.

But there was a problem with this demand in particular.

Pyro tilted his head in particular, "Umm… I don't even know who you are but I can guarantee we only entered the country within the last week. So we did not steal anything from you." Pyro stated, confused, but nonetheless still prepared for a fight.

This time it was Grim Reaper's turn to be confused. If these guys weren't the one who stole from them, then who did? Then he shook it off. Doesn't matter, either way they would need to bring these guys in alive to get their info.

There was a clicking and shrieking of metal as Grim Reaper's right arm turned into a scythe, pushing aside his cloak. "Either way, you are coming with me." Then he leaped towards the trio only for a burst of flames forcing him to dodge to the side.

The ground shook as the big one ran into one of the SUVs and body slammed it. Sending it skidding across the street forcing a third of the operatives to dodge out of the way. While a ball of acidic spit hit another car causing the car to start sizzling and the nearby operatives move away from it in a fearful manner. The last third was covered in fire or busy dodging out of the way.

Grim Reaper jumped up and moved behind cover. While he sent a message for the rest of his backup to arrive. As he watched a few SUVs quickly drive over he glanced at the mutants. He prepared himself then ran straight at the smaller ugly one that spit acid.

As his scythe closed in, Toad leaped into the air. Then Grim Reaper could feel something punching his back, pushing him forward. Forcing him forward, he cut through the gate and rolled into the facility building itself. He quickly composed himself as another column of flames flew towards him. Forcing him to once again dodge. But as he dodged he noticed his backup had arrived.

He used his scythe to cut a metal column then kicked it towards Pyro causing him to lose concentration for a moment. At that moment Grim Reaper jumped forward, going to sever a limb. But just as he was in the air something came flying towards him and he used his scythe to block it. Sending him across the large open room.

He landed on his feet and took stock of the situation again. This time he noticed the SUVs outside were flipped over and in flames. While someone with a bow and arrows was fighting it out with his underlings and the Brotherhood in a three-way fight. 

While in here he noticed a man in a khaki jacket catching a round disk. That was more than likely the item that hit him. The design on the shield was very distinctive. Reminiscent of the American flag.

"Now who are you?" Grim Reaper's threatening voice echoed through the empty facility.

Steve only shrugged, "doesn't matter. I suggest you all surrender, before things get dangerous."

"Hahahaha! Great! Just what I needed to test my abilities! A proper three-way fight!" Pyro yelled as he summoned up more flames from nearby items that were on fire. But Just as he was getting ready he stopped and frowned. Then clicked his tongue. Then there was a wave of fire that caused Grim Reaper to dodge behind an object while Steve hid behind his shield.

Pyro ran to the entrance and out the door. Leaving a wall of fire at the entrance. Steve frowned at the clear change in attitude as he prepared to follow he noticed that Grim Reaper was about to as well. So he threw his shield, pushing him back. He then caught his shield and charged forward.

There was a clinging of metal as the scythe and shield clashed. It continued for a minute before there was a sudden and distinct sound of something being shot. Then he was spasming on the floor. Steve was taken aback for a moment before he looked around and noticed Natasha stepping out of the shadows.

"Coulson is on his way with a fleet of agents. We just have to restrain them." She explained with an annoyed expression on her face.

Steve nodded and approached the spasming Grim Reaper. Then with a quick swing of his shield he was unconscious. "So I assume they got away with whatever they came here for?"

Natasha shrugged as there was the sound of foam frothing as Barton fired foam arrows to stop the fires. "Hawkeye, did they bolt?"

Barton nodded as he walked towards them, "yup, an unmarked white van pulled up and they ran. These goons, who I assume were Hydra, were far too distracting."

Steve nodded while he stepped out of the facility and looked at the mess. There were burning cars and people with injuries spread out everywhere.

"This is a mess." As he was saying that he could see off in the distance, something was flying towards them. It looked like a rocket?

—------------------------------------

Earlier.

As Mystique snuck her way in. She worked her way around the back wall and walked up to the back door. Then she quickly picked the lock and opened the door. Once inside she made her way over to the observation center. Then following the directions of their contact she pressed a few buttons on the panel then walked over to a wall panel and taped it. Opening up the hidden panel she pulled the lever. Causing a slight tremor followed by a staircase opening up in the room she was in.

Climbing down the stairs she eventually arrived at an open room and started looking around. Eventually she found the only thing that was left was a stack of boxes. Which more than likely had files in them. The files she was here for.

As she approached them she felt a shiver down her spine. Swiftly moving to the side as something with electricity flew past her she turned around and noticed a woman in a tight black combat suit.

She quickly approached her and threw a punch. The ensuing fight was filled with feints and jabs. Before finally Natasha stopped and looked at the woman up and down.

"I could not really see it before but you are Mystique of the Brotherhood. We had intel that you were on the move but not where you were going."

Mystique was about to say something when she noticed something about the boxes that were out of the corner of her eye. "Indeed we came here specifically for this. I was surprised by the amount of people watching the place, although I am starting to think I walked into a trap that was not meant for us."

Mystique slowly sidestepped her way over to the box then lifted the lid with one of her hands. She glanced at the box for a moment and frowned. All while keeping her senses on this woman in case she attacked.

Then she retrieved the only thing that was in the box. A small folded note. She lifted it up so the woman opposite her could see it.

"I think you have been had." Mystique stated and opened the note as she saw the woman lower her guard a bit. Reading the note she raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but let a grin cross her face. "Dear Shield and/or Hydra, a tip for next time. There are always two entrances to places like this. Near these boxes happened to be an emergency exit door that was installed without Hydra's knowledge. But good try! Signed yours truly, The Reaper."

Mystique smiled as she slowly backed up.

"I guess that means they noticed both us and Hydra and pulled it off right under our noses. Now I am curious." Natasha stated as she followed Mystique only stopping when she was next to the boxes.

In the next moment Mystique was opening the secret entrance and leaving as Natasha glanced at the empty boxes. Natasha clicked her tongue in annoyance and went to follow after her but realized she did not know how to open it.

She sighed and blamed her mistake on her surprise. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number, "Coulson, bring in our people. I can already hear the mess that is occurring from this three-way skirmish."

"Understood, did we get our guy?" She could hear Coulson shouting orders to his people in the background.

"Negative. This 'The Reaper' guy embarrassed both us and Hydra. I doubt we will even snatch up the Brotherhood members that showed up. But there were too many of these Hydra goons for them to get away." Natasha explained as she hung up.

—-----------------------------------

As Mystique made her way down the sewer passage she scrunched her nose as she dialed a number, "Pyro, Toad, Blob, we are pulling out. Make a beeline out of town to lose any tail. I will go to the hideout to keep an eye out and make exit plans."

She then hung up and as she crawled out of the sewer she breathed in a breath of fresh air. Then she pulled out her phone and dialed a number, "Irene I need some advice."

"You want to know where the file is?" Raven could hear Irene's usual knowing and mocking voice over the phone.

"I don't know. I warned you that your mission would go array but whenever I try to look further I can't see anything relating to the reason." Irene explained, "you plan to hit the Xavier Institute while you were there, correct?"

Raven frowned, "yes, these stupid boys still hold a grudge against each other and it is costing their respective groups a lot of heartache, but I am still supposed to hit them. Did you see what happened at the tournament?"

"Yes and no, for some reason it is blurry but I can see what occurs in general." Irene explained, "so I suggest you just be you and expect the worst case scenario, like what happened tonight."

Raven grunted, "okay, thanks hon. I will see you when I get home."

"Have a safe trip my Sherlock!" Then she hung up. As she walked away from the alley she transformed her appearance to a young brunette woman and dialed another number.

There was an answer on the other end, "speak." The one word answer made her shiver in fear. This young prick really had a bad attitude.

"Magneto, we have a few problems. It seems someone called 'The Reaper' beat us to it. But it seems they were more out to embarrass Shield and a group called Hydra. Who also happened to be watching the warehouse. We will lay low until the second objective we came here for starts up." Mystique explained.

She heard him grunt in annoyance, "is there no trace of 'The Reaper'?" Mystique glanced at the note in her hand.

"He wrote a note, which is just about the only lead we have. I will look to see if someone or something has Psychometry while we lay low." Mystique explained and heard another grunt before he hung up.

She only looked at her phone for a moment before she shook her head and made her way to the safehouse.