Tony banged his head on the desk in front of him, in complete and utter frustration. Everything that he had tried. Everything that he could think of, had totally and unequivocally failed. Scott, hell, everyone, had been trying to help. The entire team attempting to work out what they could possibly do to fix what Scott's old 'friend' had done. Yet nothing, nothing had worked. And as much as he hated to admit it. As much as he had had supreme confidence in his own abilities. Tony was finally having to accept that what their uninvited guest had said about her holding all the cards, was in fact right. And he, along with Benedict Arnold himself, were going to have to see what it would take for the Wraith to relinquish control of their systems. But what had made things worse. What had made things even more serious, was the fact that because the thief had also taken control of S.H.I.E.L.D's systems. Fury was breathing down the billionaire's neck, to get the whole thing fixed.

"Who is this woman, anyway? I mean, how the hell can she do this?" Clint asked, as he looked over at Scott. He, just like Tony, realising that it was time to accept defeat.

"(Y/n) is the best I have ever met. She's invisible. As far as I know, she doesn't even exist." Scott began as everyone turned to look at him. Not sure what to think about his last remark.

"To be honest. I don't even know if (Y/n) is her real name. We first met a number of years ago, when I was, well, when I was breaking into a building that she had already broken into. I was never quite as good at it as (Y/n) was, and I accidentally tripped the alarm. For some reason she dragged me along when she escaped. I still don't know why. Then before I knew it, we were working together. I was always amazed at what she could do. She seemed to be able to make the impossible, possible. As far as I know, there isn't a computer system or program that has ever been designed that (Y/n) can't break into, or crack. Its like she can speak to the machines themselves." Scott began to explain. As he leaned back in his chair. He had done his best to try and figure out what (Y/n) had done to all of Stark's systems. But in truth, his mind had been more caught up with what his old friend could possibly want from him.

It wasn't that (Y/n) was ever what you would really call a "bad guy". Admittedly she was a criminal, yes. And from what Scott had been able to glean from the little she had told about her life, she had been for quiet some time. But up until this point in time, (Y/n) had always seemed to have a moral code that she followed. She never stole from the little guy. Never did anything that would cause others any harm. Most of the time she seemed to be more of an annoying inconvenience to certain government agencies and important officials, than anything. Selling information here and there. Only ever stealing from those that wouldn't notice that the money had gone. Scott sometimes viewing her as a cyberspace Robin Hood that had on the odd occasion pissed the wrong person off. So, when the authorities had asked about others that he had worked with. Had asked for names. Scott had inadvertently given them (Y/n)'s. Not realising that she was slightly more wanted by certain individuals than he could ever have imagined. Thus, causing their current unfortunate situation.

But he could never have imagined that she would be doing all this just to get back at him for his little faux pas. Could never have imagined that giving someone (Y/n)'s name would cause her to be on the run for two years. To lose everything. And would result in her holding not only Stark Industries, hostage. But also, S.H.I.E.L.D, and the Avengers.

"Sounds to me like you admire her." Natasha suddenly commented.

"Sounds more like he's in love with her." Bucky interjected with a huff. All eyes turning to look at Scott as the ex-con nearly fell backwards off his chair.

"No. No! We were only ever colleagues..........really. We never. I mean we never ..........we were never anything else." Scott insisted as he tried to steady himself. Not quite sure how else to respond to the Winter Soldier's insightful remark.

What Scott was saying was true. He and (Y/n) had only ever been friends. Colleagues. Not that Scott hadn't always hoped for more. Always hoped that one day she would look away from the computer screen, and actually see him. Actually, see that he cared for her. But she never had done. And when he had given the authorities her name. When he had found himself in prison. He never thought that he would see her again.

"Personally, I don't give a damn what Lang here thinks about her. I want to find out what she wants from him. I want my systems back under my control. And I want them, now." Tony growled, as he got to his feet and made his way to the door. Throwing open the ingress and storming out into the corridor.

"Well, whatever she does want. I just hope that you can afford it, Lang. Cos I don't think that a hearty handshake and an apology are quite gonna cut it with this one." Clint scoffed, as he and the others followed after the disgruntle billionaire. Leaving Scott to contemplate just that very question.

>>-------------------------------<<

(Y/n) sat back in her chair. The smug grin still pulling at her lips. Two years she had waited. Two years she had been working for this moment. Two years it had taken her to create the program. To work out just how to crack all the codes. The break into the systems without being seen. To put in place all her contingency plans. She had watched him become Ant Man. Watched as his life had fallen into place as hers had fallen apart. And now she wanted him to pay.

In another life she would have never done this. Admittedly she had broke into Stark's systems once or twice before. Selling blueprint specs here and there to Stark Industries competitors. But they had only been something and nothing. Nothing that could ever be used to harm people. Yet now, things had changed. And this was not another life. This was her life, and she wanted it back.

She had nothing against Stark, the rest of the Avengers, or S.H.I.E.L.D. They were all just the means to an end. They were the only things that could help her get back at the person that had betrayed her more than she thought anyone could. The person that had broken her heart.

Suddenly the door to the room flew open. A red faced Tony storming in and taking a seat across the table from her. (Y/n) doing her best not to laugh out loud as she realised that Stark and the others had finally accepted that they could do nothing against her work.

"Ah, the organ grinder. What, no dancing monkey?" (Y/n) enquired as she looked at the faces of the massed heroes.

"I thought that you told the monkey to fuck off. That you only wanted to talk to the organ grinder. Well, I'm here. So, start talking." Tony hissed. Having no intention of playing the thieves little game any longer.

"Quite right, Stark. Quiet right. Now where to begin. Oh yes. I want my life back, and I want Lang to suffer."