The Magus In Marvel

The next morning, Rin found Tony in his workshop, already absorbed in whatever project had captured his attention. She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "Tony, I need to talk to you. It's important."

He glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "You're not usually this serious first thing in the morning. Should I be worried?"

She sighed. "Remember our agreement? About telling you things ahead of time? This is one of those things."

Tony set down his tool and gave her his full attention. "Alright, I'm listening."

She met his gaze. "I need to tell you about the Winter Soldier Program."

Tony leaned back in his chair. "Never heard of it. But with a name like that, it doesn't sound like a feel-good story."

Rin nodded. "It's not. The Winter Soldier was the result of a Soviet-HYDRA collaboration. They took a super soldier and turned him into the perfect assassin—extensive physical and mental conditioning, complete obedience. He was kept in cryostasis between missions so he wouldn't age. They erased his memories over and over, using him only when necessary."

Tony frowned. "So, we're talking about a brainwashed killer? Someone who's been in and out of ice for decades?"

"Exactly. In 1951, he was sent to fight in the Korean War. There, he encountered an American super soldier, Isaiah Bradley. They fought, but neither died. That was just the beginning. Over the next fifty years, the Winter Soldier carried out assassinations across the globe—scientists, politicians, world leaders. He became a ghost story, someone so elusive that even intelligence agencies doubted he existed."

Tony exhaled sharply. "That explains why I've never heard of him. He was never meant to be noticed."

Rin's expression darkened. "And then, in 1991, HYDRA activated him for a mission that's… personal to you."

Tony's gaze sharpened. "Go on."

"December 16, 1991. He was taken out of cryostasis at a HYDRA facility in Siberia. His memories were wiped again. Afterward, he was given a mission—steal a shipment of the Super Soldier Serum from a car and eliminate the people transporting it."

Tony's fingers tightened slightly against the table. "Howard and Maria Stark."

A heavy silence filled the space. Tony leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his voice measured. "So let me get this straight. A brainwashed assassin was let out just long enough to kill my parents, then tossed back into the freezer like a murder weapon?"

Rin swallowed. "Yes."

Tony inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, too calm. "Well. That's a hell of a thing to wake up to."

She hesitated. "Are you okay?"

Tony let out a short, humorless laugh. "That's a tricky question."

Unsure of what else to say, she let the silence stretch until Tony pushed himself up from his chair. "Alright. We know who did it. Now, let's find out what we can do about it." He turned to her, his gaze sharp. "I assume you already have a plan."

Rin exhaled, relieved that he wasn't shutting her out. "I do. But there's something else you need to know first. The Winter Soldier's identity."

Tony narrowed his eyes. "And?"

Rin hesitated before continuing. "James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes."

Tony frowned. "That name's familiar."

"It should be. Barnes was a World War II veteran, an officer of the 107th Infantry Regiment, and Steve Rogers' childhood best friend. He fought alongside Captain America as part of the Howling Commandos before being presumed dead in 1945. But he survived. HYDRA found him, brainwashed him, and turned him into the Winter Soldier. He's been their weapon ever since."

Tony's expression darkened. "Steve's best friend?"

Rin nodded carefully. "Four years from now, when you learn the truth on your own, it becomes the final straw that shatters the Avengers."

Tony clenched his jaw. "Let me guess. Steve knew."

Rin exhaled. "Yes, but it's complicated. Steve believed Barnes wasn't responsible for his actions. He was tortured, controlled, and brainwashed—he didn't kill your parents of his own free will. And now that he's regained his free will, Steve thinks he shouldn't be punished for something he had no control over."

Tony scoffed. "And what? I'm just supposed to let that slide?"

Rin met his gaze evenly. "That's not for me to decide. I told you now so you could make your own choice, without things falling apart later. If, after knowing everything, you still want to take him down, I'll support you. Steve doesn't know who the Winter Soldier is yet, so there won't be any interference—if you want him dead, you can make that happen."

Tony was silent for a long moment. Finally, he let out a breath and shook his head. "You've given me a lot to think about, Rin. I don't know what I'm going to do yet. But one thing's for sure—I'm not just going to let this go."

Rin nodded. "Whatever you decide, I'll be there."

Tony didn't respond, but his expression was set. A storm brewed behind his eyes. No one knew what was forming in his mind, but one thing was certain—he wasn't about to let this go.

............................

In the vast openness of Iowa, a solitary house stood amidst miles of untouched fields, enveloped by nature's quiet dominion. The landscape was a sea of green—thick grass carpeting the ground, tall crops shifting with the wind. Clusters of trees loomed in the distance, their leaves whispering secrets to the breeze. A dusty, well-worn road led to the house, flanked by wooden fences stretching endlessly. Here, the sky felt limitless, painting itself in molten gold at sunset and revealing an infinite expanse of stars at night.

Outside the house, Natasha Romanoff sat still, staring at the sky. For a woman who had built a life on deception—shifting between identities as easily as breathing—her expression was unreadable, and that unsettled Clint Barton more than he cared to admit.

He had given her time, space to process, but as the hours dragged on and she remained frozen in place, he finally broke the silence. "Nat, get inside."

She didn't acknowledge him, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "I joined S.H.I.E.L.D. to wipe the red from my ledger, to do something good, to protect the innocent. But after what the kid revealed about HYDRA's roots within S.H.I.E.L.D., I realized that instead of erasing the red, I may have darkened it. And the worst part? I have no idea how deep it goes."

Clint let out a slow breath, stepping closer. "I won't pretend to have the right words, but if you're drowning in guilt, Nat, I'm right there with you. I've done things that haunt me. I told myself we were fighting for something bigger, that we were making a difference. But maybe the kid's right. Maybe we've been playing someone else's game all along. That doesn't mean we give up. It means we change the rules."

At last, Natasha turned to him, her eyes searching his. "Stark isn't the kind of man who gets fooled by a well-crafted lie. Not after everything he's been through. He must have found something to back up her claims. And judging by his reaction last night, the kid wasn't making things up."

Clint exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "We can't undo what's already been done. But what we do next? That's up to us. Maybe—just maybe—we finally have a chance to do it right."

The silence between them was thick, not uncomfortable but heavy with the weight of things unsaid. After a moment, Clint shifted, his voice quieter now. "Don't stay out too long, or I'll send Laura and the kids to fetch you. And trust me, Nat, they won't take no for an answer."

He lingered for a few seconds longer before turning away, leaving Natasha alone beneath the endless sky, lost in thoughts that refused to be ignored.