Year 1 of 5

SHIELD compound

"We are hiding... Two months into the mess and now hiding from the people. The people we have once proudly fought for, to protect from harm. People who did not want us anymore, the very same people saying they had left humanity behind.

People knew why we left! We have told the people via the governments, we'd tried to fix this mess, but people didn't want to listen, people didn't believe anymore.

I'm keeping by this journal, just to remember those who are gone and to keep my own sanity in check. I write this in the dark, no lights on in the compound so from the outside it looks deserted, we keep it that way so people will not notice that we're still here. Occasionally someone comes to visit the building, but not with good intentions, sometimes it's one or two and a lot of spray paint as they clad the walls with dirty words and angry slogans. I'll have to admit some of them are quite the artists, but most times they come in groups to destroy the outer-sides of the building and the welcome hall. We make sure they don't have access to the living quarters, but enough access as not to draw attention to ourselves. The raccoon doesn't like it but we have to deal like this for now, until the governments allows us to move again, that's what probation is.

Tony left us as soon as he was able to sit up right again, but there was nothing left of the playful arrogant, playboy billionaire we once knew and dare say loved. What was left behind by Thanos was an empty shell of a once proud man, the loss of Peter and the overall failure had broken his armor, leaving him bare before the world. Tony made a deal and left with Pepper as soon as he could Rhody went with them. Pepper had tried to reason with them, but after she could not change Tony's mind, she had no choice but to go with. A love like that is something beautiful and sometimes I wonder if I had ever had a change on living a normal life, I could have found a love like that."

With a deep sigh Natasha leans back in her chair, her head falling back against the headrest and staring up at the ceiling, the only light in the room comes from the computer before her.

The cursor blinks patiently as it waits for her to start typing again, but with a quick move she saves the document and clicks away the window, closing the laptop making the room go dark. Quietly she pushes a hairlock back behind her ears.

"Nath."

From the dark a voice calls for her, looking forward into the pitch black she isn't sure whether her eyes are closed or not.

"Nath, come! There is something you need to hear."

Rogers stern voice drifts through the hallway before it reaches her. Heaving a deep breath, she stands up and walks towards the doorway, it's more luck than intuition that refrains her from bumping into it and once turning left she follows the low sounds that reach her as well the soft glow of candles.

"There you are, we were just about to start."

Bruce tells her, from where he is looking up at her, seated in a giant beanbag with a computer on his lap, glasses pushed up on the top of his head. She takes a seat next to him, completing the circle and stares at the others.

Next to her sits Steve settled on a normal chair, then comes the raccoon Rocket, then Clint and Nebula who have made themselves comfortable on the soft carpet that covers the floor and at last to her left, Bruce. She looked around waiting for someone to start speaking, to tell them why they had gathered, while doing that she caught Clint's eyes which were darkened and carried huge dark bags under them.

"President send a message." he grunts and looks forward again, hunching over where he was sitting and remained that way.

"It's as Clint says," Steve starts and Rocket pushes that little remote of his and from within their circle a light starts shining, blinding them for a moment before a hologram takes its place. The vice-presidents face stares back at them, seeing as the president himself had vanished as well, the man looks worse to wear and his once black hair is now coated with greys.

"Is this live?" Nathasha whispers to Bruce who shakes his head, "Came in just this morning-"

He stopped as the president started to speak.

"Avengers. New York City needs your help."

"Oh, now they need our help! You know what! You people can-" Rocket was cut off by a fist being slammed into his side, a present from Nebula, who stared unblinking at the hologram.

"Our city is being ravaged by monsters."

The way the president announces this causes some snorts in the group and looks are exchanged, before their focus is back on the man again, ignoring Rockets grunts in hope of sympathy.

"Our experts have taken to gathering information on the creatures and I'm told that these monsters aren't new to you anymore."

The face of the president disappears and instead a grainy picture appears, it's mostly a huge red stain surrounded by grey bricks and more smears of red. It changes after 20 seconds to a better picture but were the one was red this one is silver and clearer of view. A huge silver body is visible inside of what looks like an underground garage, were giant claws rip in on a still body that is lying on the ground. Judging by the amount of blood on the ground the victim was either already dead or had the misfortune of seeing this ugly monster for his last minutes.

"One unfortunate soul had the luck to film one and get away." The presidents voice is heard while the picture changes again and the red monster reappears on screen.

The filmmaker is probably lying on the ground and holding the camera up with one hand as the image of the monster appears to be taken from down below and is shaking pretty heavily. Terrified whimpers can be heard as the drool of the monster lands on the screen and the hand of the filmmaker as he starts pleading for his life. Huge white teeth become zoomed in as the creature looms over the man and the people watching can now clearly see the bits and pieces of human that are stuck between its teeth as it unhangs its jaws to swallow the man.

Then as if hesitating the monster closes its mouth and leans back on its hunches, its head is titled as if listening to something and then the skin starts rippling and from within a man appears. The red substance seems to seep beneath his skin as he stalks towards his victim a huge grin on his face.

"You didn't think we would really eat you, now did you?" The man jokes as he comes to a stop before him and squats down, running a hand through his red hair.

"We know him." Clint's voice breaks through the silence in the room and Bruce nods, "Cletus Kasady , a very famous serial killer."

"Doesn't look like much." Rocket grumbles still rubbing his injured side and shooting Nebula a nasty glare, which she generously ignores.

"We need someone alive! Who else is going to give Brock our message? And who better than you, seeing as you are the only one left alive."

At the end of the sentence Kasady's voice turns sadistic and his smile turns grim, head cocked a little to the right and when Steve zooms in on his eyes there seems to be swirling pools of silvery white broken by red veins.

Quicker than the camera can film, Kasady grabs his victim by the throat, causing the camera to be dropped but it keeps on filming Kasady squeezing his victim while grinning from ear to ear and wider. "You see... we need you. You need to tell Eddie Brock that we are waiting for him." he whispers while the man struggles, trying to get free. Once the victim starts choking Kasady drops him like trash and turns around walking away.

The man still breathing heavily appears for a second close in picture as he grabs his camera and bravely yell, "Who is Eddie Brock?! Who is we!" his voice sounds scratched from the choking and the camera angle is upside down but they can still see Kasady turning around, staring back at the man, a Cheshire-cat like smile and eyes wide as he ignores the first question but answers the last in an ominous voice.

"We are C ARNAGE"

Year 1 of 5,

Raft

The lift is dead quiet as they decent down into the prison, the only noise is the scraping and groaning of the lift as it lowers them down into the pit.

As they had landed with the repaired quint jet there had been a welcome committee, thought they didn't feel very welcome as the guards who wore heavy weapons, had only glared at them, the presumable headguard had been the only one to introduce himself as, " Raymond ." nothing more and nothing less.

Bruce tries not to shift of nervousness as not to disrupt the silence, but Rocket gives a loud yawn and scratches his neck, grinning at a guard who shoots him a look.

The lift makes a hiccup and Tony stumbles forwards almost losing his cane and falling down, but Steve is just in time to grab him under the arm and hoist him up again.

Tony shakes him off grumbling and muttering under his breath before turning away from him to glare at the intimidating looking Raymond with a 7 o'clock shadow beard, tanned and completely covered in tattoo's, crossed arms. Steve wonders how they can even be tanned seeing as there is completely no natural light or sun inside the RAFT.

"So, which idiot are you going to pick and set free out there?" Raymond speaks up and Tony starts muttering again and everyone can hear Bruce swallowing as they ignore the question asked.

"Brock. Eddie Brock?" Natasha braves and the lift goes quiet again as Raymond stares at her, eyes wider than they had been before and mouth fallen open. He quickly recovers himself and closes his mouth before giving a little cough, covering his mouth with a fist and glancing sideways.

"Brock huh..., what do you need that guy for?"

"It's classified." Steve replies curt, staring at the man, who stares back and starts grinning and it's not a nice grin.

"You think I'm stupid? You think I got no idea what's going on out there!" Raymond shouts and a vein on his temple springs up as he let's go of his weapon to wave a hand around, "You think I don't know what kind of shithole it is outside! You think I didn't lose people in the 'Vanishing'?" The man rages and takes a threatening step towards Steve, looking with all intention in the world ready to bash Steve's pretty face in.

"Hold on. He didn't mean anything by it. Presidents orders." Natasha steps between the two towering men, who are glaring at each other ignoring her.

Raymond clenches and unclenches his jaw, clenching his weapon tight, ready to shoot, while Steve's face is like it's made of stone, while wondering what it is, he's doing that seems to keep pissing people off. First Tony and now this Raymond.

Earlier that day

"NO."

"Tony please we could really use your help."

"I said NO."

Steve tries to persuade Tony from where he is sitting beside the fire, Tony is seated in a soft chair across but refuses to make eye contact. An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air, Natasha walks over and comes to a stand next to Steve, putting her hand on the headrest.

"Tony-"

"I made a deal and that's it."

Tony speaks up and glares at Natasha opening his mouth to continue but is interrupted by Pepper, "Tony please, listen to them first." who just walks into the room again together with Clint, in their hands a large trays and on it several cups of coffee and one tea which she takes herself after she served the others their drinks.

As Pepper stands up again, she rubs her small but already protruding belly and Tony stands up quickly, "You all right?", to which she replies with a calm "I'm fine Tony sit down."

She goes to sit down in a chair next to Tony's and Clint goes to stand next to her refusing to leave her side. Pepper looks up at him and smiles softly, taking his hand into hers and softly rubbing a thumb over the top of his, a knowing shining in her eyes.

Natasha stares at Clint and then Pepper visible tummy and the live growing inside of it, then back at Clint again and she closes her eyes, refusing to think further.

"Fine." Tony breaks the silence and throws his hands up in the air, "Go on, tell me. The sooner you've told me the faster you all can leave."

Steve sighs, looking up from where he had been staring down on his shoes and turns towards Tony.

"You remember Eddie Brock don't you?"

"Yes. What's he got to do with this?"

"There are more of him."

Bruce breaks in, he doesn't look at them from where he is standing off to the side and looking out of the large windows.

"More?"

"Yes." Steve picks up from where he's left off, giving Bruce a side-glance, shifting in his seat, "Brock, turns out not to be the only monster in New York. There are at least two more."

"Two more!?"

"Yes."

"How? How can there be more of those monsters?"

"We've been told that they are Klyntar." Natasha tells Tony before taking a sip from her coffee, stroking a lock of hair back behind her ears.

"Klyntar?"

"Yes, they are an alien-species from the planet Klyntar " Bruce turns towards them but remains silent again.

"And you need my help to?"

"To help catch them of course , Tony with you weapons-"

"NO."

Tony breaks Steve off again, leaning forwards in his chair and pointing a finger at Steve's face.

"I made a deal; I'm not helping you."

From the corner in the room Bruce heaves a deep sigh, "I told you'll so." he mumbles as he takes a large gulp of black coffee.

"Shut up Banner, I didn't say I would leave you with empty hands."

That shuts them all up and they look at Tony with expectation, to which he snorts and takes a sip of his own coffee. "I can help you get to Brock, there are certain kinds of loopholes in the deal I made. Let him help you, it more of his problem anyway." he grumbles and stares into his cup.

"But... will he listen to us? I mean he only knows us because we captured him?" Steve starts and Tony give a loud hearable sigh.

"Fine! I will come with you, talk to Brock, convince him but then I go home! Capeesh?"

Steve stares at Tony with a frown and concern on his face, but after a few seconds he gives a little nod.

Natasha rises an eyebrow but says nothing, knowing that it takes time to come back from losing someone, one faster than the other and gives Clint a glance. Clint remains unmoving on Pepper's side and Bruce just lets out a tiny laugh and nods, corner of his lips quirked.

"Well? What are we waiting for?"

Back in the present

The president ordered them to catch or kill these monsters and they went to Tony for help. It was his machinery last time that helped them catch Brock, along with Bruce's sedatives. Natasha can't help but feel relieved that their friend is still willing to help them out.

It's still quiet in the lift and the silence is getting awkward. The group is glancing at each other and Rocket who stands closest to a guard tries to get a good look at the weapon the man is holding and already calculating how he can get his hands on it.

Raymond who is holding a staring contest with Steve growls when he glances Rocket's small paws coming up, who startles and quickly hides his little claws behind his back giving an innocent shrug.

Nebula glares down and knocks him over, to which the raccoon starts grumbling. Natasha keeps her face clear from where she is standing next to Steve.

Then the lift comes to a stop and the doors open with a groaning that could wake the dead. From the side corner appear two other armed guards and the group can tell immediately that they are twins.

"If you will follow us."

The left one says and the right one immediately takes over, giving a small bow while saying, "then we will accompany you to your rooms."

Raymond seems to grow red in the face again as the left one starts snickering over the antics of his brother.

"You two asshats are to bring them to Alf, he will take them further down."

"But of course, I thought you trusted us!" / "Ray, you know us! When do we ever make trouble?"

The twins chorus together as one, hands on their chest in a mockery of shock, puppy eyes wide and innocence written on their grinning faces, as they mention the Avengers to follow them, turning around and starting their way down the hall.

"No jokes, detours or other idiocy you little shits!" Raymond yells after them, clearly not thrusting them at all.

It's quiet for a few minutes until Raymond is out of sight and judging by the twins also out of hearing range.

"Don't worry about Ray!" / "Yeah he's mostly a ray of sunshine!"

And the two start to snicker again before turning serious again as the left one looks over his shoulder at them. Natasha dubs them Left and Right as soon as they start talking, not noticing any clear signs with which she can separate them except that they seem to be complete mirror opposites. Right seems to favor his right hand and feet, while Left seems to prefer left, but still Synchrome.

"You see he's just lost a lot of family in the snap."

Right nods in agreement and waves a gloves hand around, "Yeah you see even we got people vanishing right and left."

"Yeah didn't matter. Guard or prisoner, they just disappeared."

"You should have been here man! Total chaos."

"And then the inmates probably thought along the like of: 'Hey?! Let's stage an outbreak!'"

"Judging on your faces that didn't end well for them did it?"

Rocket breaks in, jumping over a fallen piece of rubble to catch up with the rest. It hadn't escaped anyone's notice that all the guards had some kind of injury, whether it was a bruise or a split lip. Raymond had a nasty cut above the eyebrow, Left and Right were covered in bruises, most where hidden by their armor. All of them however had enough experience with injuries to know how to spot them, whether they were in plain view or hidden under clothes, the wearers always gave something away.

"No, it didn't!" Left grins and Right looks curious, starting down at the raccoon, "huh."

"So...", Left didn't look all that faced by Rocket, who knows maybe this really isn't the first time he's met a talking racoon, he turns towards Steve and Natasha, "why are you guys here?"

"Classified!"

Tony yells from behind Steve and Natasha, where he's walking next to Bruce and Nebula. Glancing over one side of his glasses, cane ticks echoing down the hallway.

They take a right corner, walk for a while and take a left, the walls are damaged, some are covered with bullet holes, others covered in soot as if a fire had scorched them black. A T-split came up and they walked on, Rocket glanced into the hall they walked by. The ceiling had caved in and the light that was still working flickered every few seconds. They took a sharp turn and walked through a cell block, the floor was covered with glass, probably form the observation glass-walls. Bruce shuffled past a large bloodstain marring the floor and Rocket lets out a sharp whistle as he eyes the damage to one of the cells.

"Yeah, most of our prisoners aren't..." Right starts but doesn't finish his sentence as Left holds up a hand. Everyone immediately comes to a stop, tensing up and ready for a fight, as they hear a high whining noise coming from the dark corner up ahead.

Left seems to silently communicate with Right, holding up three fingers and grabbing his flashlight as he quietly steps towards the edge of the hallway.

Right turns towards them and holds a finger to his lips and they nod, Natasha, Steve and Rocket had already grabbed their weapons, while Bruce and Nebula go to stand next to Tony, who harshly whispers that he doesn't need bodyguards.

Left and Right exchange one more look and then Left clicks on his flashlight, aiming his riffle up and steps into the hallway.

"Who's there?" Left straightens up, puffing up his chest as his posture fills with authority, face stern and eyes flashing through the hall as he tries to find the origin of the whining, his light beam slowly systematically moves along the walls until they fall upon a person that appears from behind a fallen boulder.

Right and the Avengers that were waiting for Left's signal, not able to see around the corner and leaning against the wall, are very startled when Left starts laughing and beckoning them to come closer.

Once they all round the corner and stare into the now alight hallway, they too notice the person of the sound, but were the twins now start laughing with each other, the Avengers give each other confused and slightly nervous glances.

In the hallway a man sat on his hunches, moving back and forth while letting out high whines and sobs. He wears a white short and a white t-shirt, but as they look further upwards, instead of a face there is a large brown paper bag, with holes cut out for the eyes and nothing more.

"Guess we can put Gimbo back on the list of inmates." Left speaks up, looking at Right who grabs a small device out of his pocket and starts tapping on it, while the inmate lets out another high whine and puts his left thumb underneath the bag silencing the noises.

Left turns around and signals them to start moving again and Right joins him on his left.

"Uhm shouldn't you guys lock him up again or something?" Rocket asks incredulously, eyebrows raised high as he hoists his gun over his shoulder, his tail flicking behind him as he glances past the twins and at the giant now sucking his thumb.

"Yes... what... if he gets away." Nebula's black eyes seem to glisten in the dark as she keeps a wary eye on the inmate, having enough experience with unruly prisoners.

" Gimbo ?" / "Ha! Gimbo doesn't hurt a fly."

"But only if you don't try anything, otherwise he gets mad." Right explains and starts yelling at the guy, "Hey Gimbo! How're you doing buddy?" Left gives a big wave as the inmate looks up from his thumb sucking and gives a heavy hum.

Banner looks constipated and Stark raises an eyebrow questionably as Steve and Natasha just look on, watching the scene unfold.

"That's great buddy!" / "Keep up the good work bud."

And they move on, passing another cellblock again all empty, some lights broken others flickering and hissing as electricity sparkles in small firefly like sparks down towards the ground. They reach a T-split, the hallway is completely covered in darkness at the end of the hallway is a light. Large shadows can be seen moving and muted voices can be heard.

Left and Right glances at each other as they pass by the hallway silently.

"So, you didn't capture all the prisoners again, did you?" Tony questions as he too passes the hallway, Bruce by his side to keep him from falling over debris and other fallen metal.

The twins seem to ignore the question as they scan the upcoming T-split and they start to whisper to one another , "Cellblock P's coming up"/ "We taking that chance?" / "Shortest route?" / "Ugh... Fine."

Their muttering sets the group on edge and then the hallway opens up in a large room. They walk straight up to a walkway that hangs above an abyss of darkness; little side paths connect the walkway with cells. None of them can resist the temptation to look down and see how low the prison reaches but they can't see anything really.

"Nope!" Right pops the answer to the seemingly forgotten question and Left looks over his shoulder at Tony, white teeth flashing.

"You see some of the prisoners now just have another function." Left tells them in an aloof tone thought an octave lower, not yet whispering, as if that explains anything that just happened.

Steve and Natasha share another glance, well Bruce let's out a nervous chuckle and Tony a quiet hm, Rocket and Nebula trail after them.

They near the end as Tony, with his cane, sends some piece of metal flying and sends it clattering down the walkway. The noise is deafening and everyone freezes instantly, waiting for a reaction.

Nothing comes and Left let's out a snort and an awkward grin, as Right starts chuckling nervously. Natasha eyes the guards, they may have acted cheerful and joked the whole time but now they seem scared.

"What's wrong?" Steve noticed the sudden changes of pace in the twins and he unclasps his shield from his back again taking it into his hand. Unnoticed they form a circle around Tony and stare into the dark, it's still quiet not even a squeak, still they hold still and guard up.

A minute ticks by and there is still no movement and Rocket gets fed up, he lowers his gun and looks at Left and Right while asking, "What are we stan-"

He's interrupted by a blood-curdling scream and from out of the dark a figure starts running towards them.

Steve quickly brings up his shield as Natasha points her gun up, focusing on the man, but their view is blocked by Right who brings up his riffle and aims. A soft pop resonates and the rushing man falls face first down on the ground without so much as a noise.

"Nice aim!" / "Thanks!" The twins tell each other as Left slaps Right on the shoulder and walks towards the downed man. From nowhere he produces a pair of special looking handcuffs and proceeds to handcuff the man while sitting on him.

"Put Aksel back on the list, would you?" / "On it."

While Right starts tapping on the screen, Left lifts a hand towards his earpiece and starts speaking, "Raymond, we found Aksel." He remains quiet for a few seconds before responding to an unheard question, "On the border between cellblock P and Q.". A minute passes by and Right looks up from his screen.

"What's he saying?" Right asks his brother, frowning a little when he sees his brother using the prisoner as a bean sack .

"Out and down for the count..., Copy that sir." Left finishes his conversation and stands up again while nodding at his twin.

"Well that was scary!" / "Shall we move on?"

The twins share a grin althought a forced one, it is now clear to the group that even though the prison seems to be intact and peaceful it ain't anything like that.

"What?!" Tony asks in disbelieve and the others look at each other, frowning.

"Yeah! You gonna leave him here like that?" Rocket questions further, fur bristled and his tail sweeps agitated. He clenches his gun and looks up at Nebula with hunched shoulders.

"Yup!" / "Don't worry, Raymond's team is hear within 10 minutes." / "They will pick him up-" / "and lock him up again."

The others share another glance, Steve's face is tight and lips pressed into thin lines.

Bruce's seems to have other questions, but Natasha gives a little shake of the head, silencing him. From behind the group they can hear Tony growling under his breath, questioning his own sanity and why he thought it was a good idea to come with.

They walk on in silence, take a left, a right and then a short hallway appears which leads to a dead-end . And Rocket let's out a low grumble about all the walking being for nothing.

"Don't worry my little furry friend!" / "It's a trick you see?"

Left walks a few steps ahead until he faces the corner and starts pressing on the wall. A second ticks by and then the plating on the wall starts shifting into a door. Right spares them a glance over the shoulder and gives a what's probably mend as a reassuring smile before the door completely appears.

"Well this is where we will be taking our leave!" / "Yup oh! Don't be to imitated by Alf, he's really just a big huggy bear."

"See you guy's later!"

The twins finish in unison as they turn around and walk away, taking a right before disappearing from view, leaving the group before the closed door.

" Huggy bear?" Bruce repeats, his eyes wide as he looks at his friends and Natasha shakes her head.

"Earth does have humor after all!" Rocket snickers and elbows Nebula against her knees, while she remains unmoving.

"Well... that was..." Steve starts but stops again, not knowing what to say apparently. Before Tony shoves by and gives him a curt look from over his glasses.

"Why don't we go see if there's somebody home hm?" he says and turns towards the iron door, lifts his cane and starts slamming on the door.

Notes:

Originaly this was supposed to be one chapter but I had to cut it into two halves because it would become really long and so became a little diffecult to read.

Also not beta read so if you notice any fault please message! Thank you! :D

PS thank you for the messages! :)