TA

The Avengers were having one of those rare, completely ordinary afternoons. Steve was sitting at the table going through paperwork. Clint was arguing with Natasha over something on the television. Bruce was reading on the couch. Thor was attempting to explain a story from Asgard to Peter, who was only half listening. Then the elevator doors opened. Tony walked in carrying a manila file. “Hey, does anyone know who used the last—” He stopped. Everyone looked at him. Tony glanced down at the file in his hand. “Oh. Right.” He walked over to the table and tossed the file down. Steve looked up. “What’s that?” Tony pulled out a chair. “Work.” Clint raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t answer the question.” Tony sighed. “Fine.” He opened the file casually, flipping through several pages. “Someone has hired the Viper Assassin.” The room went completely silent. Tony looked up. Nobody said anything. Peter looked around at everyone. “…Who’s Viper?” Natasha’s expression had changed. Barely. But enough for Steve to notice. Steve turned toward her. “You know that name?” Natasha didn’t answer immediately. Clint stopped arguing with her. “Natasha?” She finally looked at Tony. “Where did you hear that?” Tony leaned back in his chair. “That’s the interesting part.” He pulled a photograph from the file. He slid it across the table. A young woman stared back at them. Dark auburn hair. Ice-blue eyes. A completely unreadable expression. Steve picked up the photograph. “Who is she?” Tony looked at him. “Scarlett Volkov.” Bruce sat forward. “And she’s the Viper?” Tony nodded. “Apparently.” Peter looked at the picture. “Okay, but why is everyone acting like she just walked in here?” Clint gave him a serious look. “Because she hasn’t.” Peter frowned. “What does that mean?” Clint looked back at the photograph. “It means if she’s been hired…” He paused. “…we don’t know when she’s coming.” Steve turned back toward Tony. “Who hired her?