Part 3: Quiet Steps
Location: Avengers Tower, Late Night
The hallway was silent, lights dimmed to a low glow. Riven walked with steady steps until he reached Tony's private floor again.
Tony, still awake with a glass of scotch in hand, raised an eyebrow when Riven appeared at the door.
"What now, spooky?"
"Do you have a phone? A spare? And Logan's number."
Tony blinked, then slowly grinned. "Going off the grid already, huh?"
"I just need to talk."
Tony disappeared for a moment and returned with a burner phone, already loaded with a few contacts. He tossed it over. "Try not to break this one."
Riven nodded and stepped back into the hall.
A few moments later, he stood by the elevator, phone pressed to his ear. One ring. Two.
"Yeah?" Logan's voice crackled.
"It's Riven. I got the list."
A pause.
"Bet. Let's go."
Riven suited up quietly in his room. Dark shirt. Reinforced jacket. Gloves.
He stepped into the hallway and started toward the elevator.
That's when she appeared.
Natasha, leaning casually against the wall.
"Going somewhere?"
Riven didn't stop walking.
"I won't be gone long."
She fell in step beside him, calm but curious. "You sure you want to do this alone?"
He paused, then looked at her.
"I got backup."
Natasha held his stare for a beat longer, then simply nodded. "Be careful. And come back."