Chapter Text
“All of your biometrics have been loaded into the system, granting you permission to the tower and its many amenities,” Mel informed you as you ascended in the elevator, her eyes busy tapping on a tablet in her hands as you attempted to ease your nerves.
You were an up-and-coming journalist, currently writing for the Daily Bugle, who had been hand-selected by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, or Val, for her passion project . The assignment? A twelve-page exposé on her New Avengers.
Included in this assignment was a week of free room and board in Val’s Watchtower, the home of these so-called heroes, in order to “capture the true essence of the team,” as she had poetically put it.
The few exchanges you had with Valentina had led you to assume you would practically be publishing whatever she deemed fit, or so she hoped. The invitation into the tower was more good optics for the team that desperately needed it, as much of the general public had their doubts.
You couldn’t say you blamed them. Though their recent actions against The Void just three weeks ago were commendable, this new team didn’t exactly have a fantastic resume. An unlikely mix of former assassins is a hard-selling point. So why take the job?
Firstly, Valentina paid well.
But more importantly, everyone deserves a second shot, right?
The elevator dinged before its doors slid open, revealing the open concept of one of the highest floors of the building. There was a living area to the right side and a bar to the left, but your eyes remained mostly on the view of New York through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Mel led you down a short hallway, a handful of doors that were all marked as conference rooms spread throughout the length of the hall. Valentina emerged from one of them, closing the door behind her as she spotted you and Mel approaching. Her eyes lit up as she began to speak, “Ah, perfect! Just in time, the gang's all here.”
Your eyes glanced over at the door near you, assuming that Valentina had assembled the New Avengers for your introduction, the mental image of the intimidating team sitting and waiting for you causing your nerves to grow slightly.
Valentina faced you directly, “Now, this issue is very important, okay? This team needs all the help and good publicity they can get.”
You nodded in understanding, recalling the very long briefing packet you were sent as mandatory reading before accepting this job. No negative language, make them relatable if at all possible, and reiterate the fact that they are now Avengers.
Valentina reached for the door handle, pausing briefly to address you again, “Don’t let them intimidate you either, alright? This group is far from perfect, I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”
You blinked in surprise at her words and how they so casually fell from her mouth, Valentina not paying them a second thought as she opened the door and re-entered the conference room. Mel shrugged her shoulders and offered you a sympathetic smile before entering the room as well, leaving you momentarily alone in the hall.
After a deep breath, you stepped into the conference room.
Faces that you had only seen through a screen were now very real and very much in front of you. It would’ve been a tad overwhelming if they didn’t look as though they wanted to be literally anywhere else but here.
Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ava Starr, Alexei Shostakov, and James Buchanan Barnes. You had done a history project on him once, funny now that you stood ready to report on him again.
Off in the corner with his nose tucked in a book sat a man with shaggy brown hair, someone you hadn’t expected, and that seemed so normal compared to the rest of the tower’s inhabitants. You curiously eyed him before focusing back on Val’s New Avengers.
Half of the team had been listening to what Valentina was saying while the other half had wandered off into their own thoughts, but all their eyes drifted towards you when you entered the room. You surveyed their mixed expressions, realizing that perhaps Valentina hadn’t been upfront about your arrival.
Alexei spoke up, “Who is the girl?”
Ah, certainly not upfront then.
“This journalist here is your saving grace,” Valentina responded, stepping towards you just enough so that she could lay a hand on your shoulder.
“Journalist?” Ava repeated, searching for clarification as to why a journalist had a personal invite to the tower.
“That’s right,” Valentina replied with a nod, removing her hand from your shoulder in order to speak with her hands, gesturing to the team gathered around the conference table, “Let’s face it, the public is not sold on you guys yet. Y/N is here to speed that process along.”
“No,” Bucky spoke up, his arms crossed and the defiance in his voice clear.
This was a fantastic way to start this job.
Valentina raised a single brow and challenged the former Winter Soldier, “No?”
“Yeah, actually, I’m gonna have to agree with the old man on this one,” Yelena spoke up, “We are not animals in a zoo.”
“Are you not the same girl who was specifically requesting more public-facing work?” Valentina remarked, an eyebrow raised as he placed her hands on the conference table. She leaned in closer to the group that was around as she continued to address Yelena, “This is part of it, Ms. Belova.”
A silence fell over the room after Valentina’s words, the finality in her tone extremely apparent. Valentina let the tension linger for a moment before she continued to speak, “You either cooperate, let her write something nice and potentially true about you… Or she writes what I want her to write about you.”
“Meaning?” John spoke up, his attitude dripping, “You can’t tarnish us without tarnishing you.”
“Excellent point, Walker,” Valentina replied, nodding her head in agreement, though you could tell it was nothing good. She removed her hands from the conference table and took a few steps closer to John as she spoke her next words, “But I could have her write about why you and Olivia aren’t together anymore.”
John’s eyes, as well as a few of the other team members, honed in on Valentina at the mention of his ex-wife. The brunette didn’t miss a beat in her hypothetical, “Maybe Olivia was just a tad too unfaithful for you. Maybe, that child isn’t even yours at all.”
“You know damn well none of that’s true,” John quickly denied through gritted teeth.
“I decide what’s true,” Valentina retorted with a smug grin, circling back to the front of the room to stand beside you. She flung an arm around your shoulders as she manipulated the team, “Unless, of course, you cozy up with Y/N and convince her to print your truth.”
The majority, yourself included, avoided Valentina’s observant gaze as she smugly waited for someone to try and speak up against her. A few seconds of silence was all she needed to feel confident enough that the team would comply. Still, as she removed her arm from around you and started to the exit, she said, “The choice is yours.”
She vacated the room, Mel following behind her, leaving you awkwardly standing at the front of the room with the unhappy New Avengers. You thought about how to break the silence, lighten the mood, but the words escaped you. How were you ever to complete this cover?
“Oh, and will someone be a doll and show her to her room?” Valentina popped her head back in for just a moment, the uncomfortable silence she provided upon her exit fueling her joy. She pointed a finger at you before gesturing to the mystery man in the corner, “And you, not a word about the manchild in the back there. Capeesh?”
“Wait, why?” You started to ask, but Valentina was already out the door, her heels clicking down the hallway as she went about her day.
You turned your attention back to the group, your eyes lingering on the unknown man in the oversized sweater. He offered you an unsure smile and an introduction, his voice deep, “I’m Bob.”
“Hi Bob,” you said, confused about how he fit in amongst the group and why Valentina was adamant about leaving him out of the issue. There wasn’t even a mention of him in any of the documents you were sent over previously to review or sign, no hint of a paper trail. He was clearly kept a secret for some reason.
“Olivia’s great, by the way,” John spoke, still feeling compelled to defend his ex-wife. He remorsefully admitted, more to clear her name than as a confession, “I screwed up, none of this is on her.”
“Thank you, uh,” you started, cutting yourself off mid-thought to ask him, “Sorry, what should I refer to you as? Agent? Or Captain? Or..?”
“You can call me John,” he easily replied.
Ava added, “Trust me, there is no need for formalities around here.”
“John,” you repeated with a small nod, getting adjusted to the feeling. You weren’t used to being so casual with your subject matter.
Another brief silence fell over the room before you let out a deep exhale and addressed the team, “Look, I’m sorry that it seems like Valentina wasn’t exactly forthright about me being here.”
“We had no idea you were coming until you walked through the door,” Alexei commented, vaguely pointing to the conference room door.
You curtly nodded at the new information and muttered, “Right… Um, I don’t mean to be a burden or anything while I’m here.”
“Wait, how long are you here for?” Yelena asked, her brows furrowed.
You hesitated before answering her, knowing the answer probably wouldn’t please anyone in the room. “A week.”
“A week? ” Yelena repeated with surprise, her teammates equally as shocked or confused.
Bucky dryly laughed and began to rise from his seat, shaking his head and making a beeline to the exit. As he walked by you, he met your eyes and coldly remarked, “Welcome to the tower.”
Your eyes followed him until he left the room, and even then, you couldn’t look away from the door he had just walked through.
“Don’t worry about him,” Bob attempted to reassure you from his corner. He continued speaking with a slight nod, almost as though he was reassuring himself as he spoke, “He takes a while to warm up to people.”
You offered him a tight smile in return, finding it kind that he tried to comfort you, though you weren't entirely sure how true his words were.
“I will show the new girl around, yes?” Alexei said, attempting to break the tension that Bucky had left behind.
“No, no, I will show her around,” Yelena amended, rising from her seat as she did so.
“Why?” Alexei loudly whined, seemingly offended that Yelena was taking the opportunity away from him. “I make great tour guide!”
Yelena stepped closer to you as Ava pointed out, “You still don’t know your own way around the building.”
Alexei’s mouth hung slightly ajar at the accusations from his team member as John erupted in laughter. Yelena grabbed you by the arm, gently pulling you towards the exit of the conference room, “Come on press girl, with me.”
You re-entered the hallway, the door shutting and muting the conversation you had left, as you began to follow Yelena. Her hand dropped from your arm as you fell into step beside her. She led you back towards the elevator as she asked, “You sure you’re up for a week here?”
“Valentina would probably have my head if I backed out now,” you replied, your tone lighthearted despite how true the words were.
Yelena hit the call button on the elevator as she retorted, “There are many other reporters, Valentina would be alright.”
As you two waited for the elevator to retrieve you, you let out a heavy sigh, electing to tell Yelena the reason you were selected for this project as it was bound to be revealed eventually, “My mom wrote one of the first pieces on the Avengers back in 2012.”
Yelena looked over at you as you talked, her eyes softening just slightly. You met her eyes as you added, “Don’t think many other reporters have that sort of legacy… It’s why Valentina chose me.”
The blonde nodded as the elevator finally dinged and arrived. The doors opened and you both stepped on board as Yelena asked, “Why not get your mom to write the piece again?”
“She, uh… she passed away recently,” you answered, your eyes dropping to the spotless elevator floor as Yelena selected the floor number. You had drifted apart a bit in your adult years, but the pain did not come any easier. Regret accompanied you more than anything recently, wishing you had called your mother at least one last time before her passing.
“I’m sorry,” Yelena immediately offered, the elevator doors shutting as the unit began to rise. “How recent? We can get Val to postpone this, you know.”
Another sigh left your lips as you hesitated slightly before answering her question. Your gaze continued to avoid Yelena’s when you finally did respond, “About three weeks ago.”
The gears in Yelena’s head instantly began to turn as she pieced the timelines together, her eyes widening as she realized the implications behind your words. She prompted, “No, you mean…”
You nodded slightly and elaborated, “She only lived two blocks from here. It was a heart attack that did it, but everyone who knew her thinks The Void brought it on. She went in, saw whatever she saw, and went into cardiac arrest when she got out.”
The elevator slowed and began to settle as you continued, “She was pretty healthy. She should’ve been able to bounce back from it if she got the emergency care she needed, but the city was in chaos. No one got to her in time.”
The doors slid open to reveal the new floor, a large living area with a kitchen on the left, and you exited the elevator first. Yelena was frozen as she processed the information you had just dropped, stepping out of the elevator a few moments after you, “Are you sure you want to be here? With us?”
“I don’t blame you for it. You guys did the best you could, right?” you hypothetically asked, “Saved all the citizens you could, prevented The Void from taking over the entire city.”
“Right…” Yelena quietly confirmed, her gaze dropping from yours. She awkwardly shifted where she stood, though you didn’t notice as your gaze remained on the view of the city.
“You can maybe see why my word means so much to Valentina,” you said with a sigh as Yelena came to stand beside you.
The sad daughter of a legendary writer attempting to carry on her mother’s legacy with the new wave of Avengers? The pieces sold themself. At least, that’s what Valentina had told you.
The blonde’s eyes trailed out to the view of the city as she responded, “Then let’s hope it is your words that you end up publishing, not hers.”
You turned your head just slightly and smiled softly at Yelena. She caught your gaze and returned your smile with a small grin of her own. A feeling of relief washed over you both, though for very different reasons.
Yelena was glad to realize that Valentia’s planted media hand wasn’t completely brainwashed by the CIA Director. It was refreshing to know that her Thunderbolts weren’t the only ones in the building resisting Valetina’s influence.
You felt a sense of camaraderie pass between you and Yelena, which reassured you greatly on moving forward with this once-in-a-lifetime project. Bucky’s initial dismissal of you had you worried that this would be practically impossible, but it was nice to slowly see that wasn’t entirely the case.
“Come on, press girl,” Yelena said, patting your shoulder a few times before turning away from you, “Living quarters are this way.”
You turned away from the view of the city as well, following after Yelena as she led you down a hallway towards the bedrooms. Yelena said, “I assume, and hope for your own sake, that Valentina put you in Alexei’s old room.”
“Where is Alexei now?” you asked, taking mental note of the adjective she used.
“We collectively cast him out to the other wing of rooms, he was far too loud while we were all trying to sleep,” Yelena easily informed you, earning a chuckle from you as you entered a gray hallway lined with six doors. Each door had a dark, wired basket hanging on the wall beside it.
The blonde waved her hands around as she explained, “The right is me, then Bob, Bucky at the end. Left is Ava, Walker and…”
Yelena rushed over to the last room on the left, grabbing the papers that hung in the wired basket beside it. She let out a little noise of excitement after her green eyes scanned over the documents, “Aha! Just as I guessed, this is you for the week.”
You wearily glanced at Bucky’s door across the hall from you before Yelena handed the sheets over to you. You asked, “The New Avengers have their own special mailing system or something?”
You skimmed over the small stack, finding additional copies of the NDAs and disclosures you had signed beforehand, a map of the tower, and brief bios on your subjects for this spread. Your eyes lingered on what looked to be an itinerary for your week. Yelena joked, "How else are we meant to receive our mail?"
“Valentina also has Mel drop off any mission briefings or confidential information she wants us to know. Anything gets out, she knows it is one of us who leaked it,” Yelena informed you.
A small exhale, nearly a chuckle, left you as you sarcastically remarked, “Foolproof.”
Yelena chuckled as well at your sarcasm and you were glad that the two of you were already getting along. With your free hand, you reached for the doorknob to your temporary room, taking a slight breath before opening and entering.
The room was rather spacious and provided another view of the city for you to enjoy behind closed doors. To your right was a queen-sized bed, matching bedside tables sandwiching the plush mattress.
In front of the bedding, a dresser stood against the wall, your bags that had been taken by a man at the front desk of the Watchtower now sitting atop it. Hanging just above the dark wooden dresser was a flat-screen TV for you to enjoy during your downtime.
At each side of the dresser and the television were floor-to-ceiling windows that you could already picture yourself gazing out of for moments on end. In front of one of these windows, a desk was set up for you to work. The accompanying chair looked rather comfortable, and you slowly approached it in order to place down the papers you still held.
On your left, a sliding door was partially open to reveal your closet space for the week if you elected to unpack. Just beside the closet, a door was left ajar to showcase the hints of your own personal bathroom for the week.
You sat down at your desk and sifted through the papers a bit more as Yelena spoke, “It’s practically a glorified dorm here. Your own bath, your own bed, communal kitchen, communal living spaces.”
“Can I quote you on that?” you asked her with a slight laugh, your eyes stopping on what looked to be your itinerary for the week again, this time hoping to look over it in more detail.
A smirk spread across Yelena’s face as she stepped closer to you, “I have got a way with words, don’t I?”
She curiously looked over your shoulder as you took in the schedule that Valentina had given you for the week, your heart dropping a little once you realized just how much one-on-one time you’d be having with each member of the team.
Press Week at the Watchtower
Team, please be welcoming to her. Don’t scare her off on day one.
Overview of the week is as follows; detailed breakdowns can be found on the subsequent pages.
Sunday, November 7th.
Press arrives, will occupy vacant room in East Wing.
Day 1 - Monday, November 8th.
Mel to conduct formal tour and orientation in the morning. Press to shadow Ava Starr for remainder of business day.
Day 2 - Tuesday, November 9th.
Press to shadow Yelena Belova throughout business day.
Day 3 - Wednesday, November 10th.
Press to oversee photoshoot day. Individual, duo and group shots needed. BTS content also required.
Day 4 - Thursday, November 11th.
Press to shadow Alexei Shostakov throughout business day.
Day 5 - Friday, November 12th.
Press to shadow James “Bucky” Barnes throughout business day. Press to attend and cover The Void Memorial in the evening.
Day 6 - Saturday, November 13th.
Press to shadow John Walker throughout business day.
Day 7 - Sunday, November 14th.
Press to ensure she has all materials needed for the exposé, following up with individual team members as necessary. Press to leave Watchtower by 7:00 pm.
Yelena was the one to break the silence, “Ooooh, shadowing? Sounds fun.”
“Sounds horrifying,” you corrected her, your eyes lingering on Friday. The thought of following Bucky like a lost puppy and then attending an event in which your mother would undoubtedly be mentioned left an uneasy feeling in your stomach.
Concern flashed across Yelena’s eyes for just a moment, “You didn’t know?”
“No,” you said, shaking your head before looking up at her, “And considering you weren’t aware of any of this until I got here, I’m guessing you didn’t either.”
She attempted to reassure you through a soft smile before replying, “No. The way this is worded though, I’d bet you each of us was left a copy too.”
“Great,” you sighed, not wanting to think of the mixed reactions amongst the team as they read the same words you just did. Your eyes dropped to absentmindedly skim through the pages of the detailed daily schedules, noticing that a certain name was still nowhere to be found. Glancing back up at Yelena, you asked, “Does that include Bob? What’s his story?”
Yelena avoided your gaze as she slowly put her words together, “Bob is… someone Valetina has special interest in. He has potential, so she keeps a tight leash on him.”
“Potential?” you reiterated, hoping she would give you a bit more.
“Potential,” Yelena repeated, now meeting your eyes again, “And in case he doesn’t meet that potential, Valentina doesn’t want a trace of him. Can’t have another failed project threatening her reputation.”
“Right,” you softly said, your brows furrowing as you thought the information over. There was certainly more to his story, and you were determined to figure it out by week’s end.
“Anyways, sometimes we dine as a team, sometimes we don’t,” Yelena changed the subject, “Lucky for you, Walker got this new grill he’s super excited for and volunteered himself for dinner duty. Should be around 7, if you want to join us.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’d be great. Thank you,” you said to her, both nervous and a bit excited at the prospect.
“I’ll leave you to get settled then,” Yelena said, making her way towards the door, “Shout if you need anything.”
She exited the room, shutting the door behind her as you were left alone. A heavy exhale left your mouth as your brain began to process the last half hour of your life.
You leaned back in your desk chair, shutting your eyes for a brief moment to enjoy the bit of peace, as you were almost certain you would get increasingly less of it throughout the week.
When you reopened your eyes, they fell on the small stack of documents on your desk. You sat up, rolling closer to the desk as you figured you may as well get familiar with your schedule before dinner, just in case the team had something to say about it.
Lord, this was going to be a crazy week.