obsidian + citrine

A/N: I used the BrantSteele Hunger Games simulator for this, so all the fights etc are from that. I decided to make this oneshot because I made one for my chat book, but for this I'm using another simulation, and oh my god. This is so much darker than the chat. I now know what George R. R Martin feels like. I tried to not make it too dark, but if you're not okay with your faves dying, I do not suggest reading.

. . .

You awoke to find yourself confined in a small tube surrounded in darkness. You strained hard, trying to figure out how you got there, but you had no recollection of previous events.

The ground beneath you started to ascend. You steadied yourself, unprepared for the sudden movement. Bright light assaulted your eyes as you were raised out of the claustrophobic space into a large field. You looked around, and noticed your friends in a large circle standing on a metal platform.

You narrowed your eyes as you spotted Loki on one of the platforms, mildly surprised he was there too. He shrugged at your gaze, just as oblivious as to what was happening as you. Your gazed moved away from Loki to a silver coned shaped building in the middle of the field and you froze. A Cornucopia. You had seen the movie, and read the books, but yet you still didn't want to believe it.

An image flickered across the sky and a voice rang out, loud and mocking. Ultron. You glared at his smug, vibranium face as he stared everyone down, his image imposed on the dome.

"Have you watched the Hunger games?" he asked. "I have. And I was simply fascinated at the idea of pitting humans against each other and wiping themselves out for me. So, that's exactly what I'm going to do."

"You can't make us kill each other, Ultron! We won't do it," Tony screamed out.

Ultron laughed. "I know, which is why I added some precautions and threw in some incentive. You see, this is a simulation, designed and created by yours truly with some tweaks of my own. Whether you choose to murder your friends or not is not up to you. The only way back to reality is to become the victor or be killed. Resist killing your friends, and the urge to kill them will just grow stronger."

Everyone shared uneasy glances with each other.

"Why kill the Avengers when I can make them live with the memories of being slaughtered by the ones they love?" he said wickedly. "Or worse, make them live with nightmares of them butchering their friends."

"We will fight this, Ultron!" Wanda shouted.

"My dear, the more you fight it, the more your humanity slips away. It's better to embrace it," he paused and you realized his eyes were on Bruce. "In here, you have no gamma radiation, no godlike powers, nothing. But, maybe if I feel like, I will allow one of you to regain your abilities for a spectacular kill."

Pietro who was on the platform next to you rolled his eyes. "Please. Shut up."

Ultron chuckled and a countdown appeared. "Oh, did I add you will feel everything that happens in here? It's quite like real life." 10 seconds. "Have fun." 7 seconds. "Let the games begin, and may the cannons ring loud!" 0 seconds.

You uneasily stepped off your platform, as did everyone else. No one dared to move further.

Ultron sighed. "I knew your morals would be a buzzkill right away, which is why I decided to implement tendencies to murder in all of you. But for now, might want to back away from Sam, Y/N and Tony."

You furrowed your brows in confusion. "I feel fine."

"Sam doesn't!" Natasha shouted. You whipped your head towards her to see Sam attacking her in a blind rage. "Sam, snap out of it!"

The sudden commotion seemed to set everyone into motion. Those who didn't flee from the cornucopia started gathering supplies. You noticed Gamora gathering as much food as she could, and Erik picked up a pair of sais. Weapons. There were weapons. You ran towards a sickle and grabbed it, hoping to help Natasha who was still battling Sam.

You started in her direction but stopped when you saw Tony pick up a molotov and aim it at Bucky. "Tony, stop!"

You turned away in horror, not wanting to witness what came afterwards. "He's awake now, he's fine. It's not real. It's not real," you chanted.

You turned your attention back to Natasha, who wasn't moving on the ground, blood smeared all over her and Sam.

Sam cupped his head in his hands, "Oh no, what did I do?!" Sam slowly stood up, a grim resolve on his face. "I'm sorry." You couldn't move, frozen by fear, as you watched him put her out of her misery. "I couldn't let her suffer, Y/N," he told you when he caught your gaze.

You backed away and started running, until your vision went red.

Later you awoke in the woods. You did not remember leaving the field, you remembered trying to. You had no idea how you got there. You stood up and winced, a large cut was across your arm. You spotted your sickle laying on the ground and went to pick it up, only to back away, repulsed when you saw dried blood coating it.

You heard a twig snap behind you. Quickly you turned, relieved to find Clint. "Thank god it's you! What's happening is madness. Do you know where everyone else is?"

He ignored you and clutched the spear in his hand tighter.

"Clint?" you asked, slowly backing away.

Clint lunged at you, but you were quicker and dodged out of the way. He scrambled to his feat and flung the spear at you. You didn't duck soon enough and it grazed the cut on your arm. You winced in pain and attempted to take a fighting stance, but whatever had happened earlier had exhausted you.

He charged at you and knocked you over. The two of you were caught in a flurry of punches, kicks and bites, until exhaustion took over and you submitted knowing you would not win this fight.

Just when you thought Clint would kill you, and you'd be free of this nightmare he pulled back. "Y/N? I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Not waiting for a response, he took off running and you let out a sigh of relief.

Cannons echoed throughout the dome. 9 cannon shots.

"Let's have a replay of the kills so far, shall we?" Ultron's voice appeared.

The dome projected a video of Sam killing Natasha, followed by Bucky's death. Vision, T'Challa, Rocket and Wanda decided to leave the simulation early and, you hoped, free the rest of you, as they took their lives. Gamora had fallen into a lake and drowned. Steve, to your surprise, had tracked down Loki and killed him. Finally, Drax appeared on screen and you had to look away, now knowing why the sickle was bloody.

As darkness settled, you ran into Wade who teamed up with you for the night. The two of you huddled together in front of a small fire.

"Stupid robot," Wade muttered. "Stupid games."

You nodded meekly.

"You know, I thought the Hunger Games was about, you know, stealing food or some shit like that, but this?" he paused and then decided not to continue.

A thought entered your head, causing you to speak up, "Ultron said we'd be free if we die."

Wade nodded.

"So if I die, I get out of here, and I can help the others on the outside to set everyone else free!"

"What's your point, Y/N?" he asked.

"You have to kill me, Wade."

"What the fuck," he said aghast. "You heard what Stark - technically Pym - Junior said! You're not free of the pain. Abso-fucking-lutely not."

"Why is now the time you choose to have morals?" you questioned.

"Hey, I'm always happy to turn someone into a shishkebab, but not my friends. They're few enough already."

The next day Wade and you ran into Peter Parker, Peter Quill and Erik Lehensser. Wade was elated to see Peter, and you all decided to team up. The day was spent hiding from other tributes, and was generally uneventful, save for the cannon shots in the distance.

Wade cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, "Hey, Vibranium asshole! You gonna show us the kill cam or not?"

Ultron's image appeared. "I question why I added you to this. Tony and Scott are currently in a fight to the death."

"Oh man, Mr. Stark's really lost it," Peter said.

Erik nodded, "First Bucky and now Lang?"

"Hey, maybe Scott will manage to get away," Quill said hopefully.

Ultron snickered. "Here's your kill cam, Deadpool."

The dome showed Pietro and Charles.

Erik froze. "Please, no."

It appeared they had teamed up, until Charles turned away and Pietro stabbed him in the back. Erik made a distressed noise and you and Quill shared a look on whether to comfort him or remind him that Charles wasn't really dead. Then Scott and Tony appeared, and everyone held their mouths in shock as Tony stabbed Scott with a tree branch.

Wade quickly covered Peter's eyes. "Holy shit."

"How can you be more interested in Lang's death but not Charles'?" Erik snapped.

"Because, he's not really dead. And when you remember that, it makes all of this a lot easier," you said.

"There's more," Ultron said. "These kills happened last night."

"I heard the shots, hoped they were a mistake since you never showed anything for them," Quill said sadly.

The image showed Charles ambushing Bruce and killing him. Everyone turned to Erik for a response.

"I suppose Charles' death can be justified as karma now?" he said

Tony appeared on screen once more.

Your mouth dropped open. "You have got to be kidding me!"

You watched as Tony caught Clint off guard and killed him.

"I'm starting to wonder, what if it's not the murderous tendencies and madness Ultron implemented? What if he's fully aware?" Quill asked.

Wade covered Peter's ears. "Not in front of the child!"

The sun began to set and camp was set up. There was rustling in a bush and you prepared to attack until Steve stepped out with scratches all over him.

He looked at you and dropped to his knees, finally relieved to find someone he can trust. "Tony's gone mad. Ultron was not kidding. I don't understand how he can get into our minds."

Wade stepped forward, spear in his hand. "Where is he?"

Steve looked around uneasily. "I - I don't know."

"You're lying, Cap."

You stepped between Wade and Steve. "Put the spear down," you demanded.

Wade shook his head. "Stark's gone mad. He might kill you, or Parker! Do you think I'm gonna let the kid go through all that pain? To go through death, and come out on the other side like it was all a dream?"

Steve stood up and put a hand on your shoulder. "He's right, Y/N. If not for your sake or the kids, for Tony's. Do you think he's going to be able to live with this once he's out? He already has four kills."

You didn't want Wade to kill Tony, but you also knew if Tony killed more people, he would never be able to live with himself. He wouldn't listen to you or anyone that Ultron made him do it, he'd take full responsibility. Even if none of it was real. You nodded and stepped away.

Once Steve directed Wade to Tony's location, he came and sat down next to you. The two of you didn't speak much. You avoided the topic of him killing Loki, unsure if Steve remembered it. He tended to your wounds as Peter slept for the first time since the simulation started. Someone on the outside sponsored Quill fresh food which he shared with everyone. Erik stayed up and kept a watchful eye out. You felt safe and at ease for the first time. As you slowly drifted asleep, a canon echoed through the dome, and not long after Wade returned.

You awoke to a battle cry and saw Sam wildly slashing out with a sickle at Quill. You stood up quickly and prepared to fight him off but Quill held up a hand. "Go! I'll hold him off!"

Wade did not hesitate and grabbed your hand as well as Peter's, dragging the two of you behind him as he ran. Steve and Erik trailed closely behind. A canon, louder than the ones you've heard, echoed through the dome. In the fiasco, Peter fell back, but Wade didn't stop running with you until he was certain it was safe. Upon catching your breath you looked around for Peter, calling out.

Wade shushed you. "He's probably with Steve and Erik. You stay here, I'm going to go get the high ground and see if I can find them."

As you waited for Wade to return, a hatchet floated down. You picked it up. "Thank you, unknown sponsor. T'Challa? Wanda? Tony? ... Bucky?"

Night rolled in and Wade did not return. Instead, Quill appeared. The two of you decided to sleep in shifts. It was your shift when the telltale noise of the kill cam sounded.

You looked up, and saw Quill kill Sam in self defense with his own sickle. Then, it showed Wade killing Tony in his sleep. "At least he didn't suffer."

Just as you were about to wake Quill up for his shift, the boom of a canon startled you and the kill cam played once more. It seemed Wade had found Peter, with Steve, but Steve had fallen under the bloodlust once more, and so had Peter. Vomit rose in your throat and you tried your best to keep it down.

"The cornucopia has been replenished with food, supplies, weapons and messages from your fallen Avengers," Ultron said.

Quill had woken up and sent you a questioning look.

You nodded. "It's worth a shot."

And so the two of you set off to the cornucopia. Just as you were about to leave the clearing Peter appeared.

"Y/N! There you are!" he said happily. "I can't find Wade! Cap has lost it, but I managed to escape."

Quill scratched his head nervously. "Oh man."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "What?" He took a step towards you.

You stopped him. "Don't come any closer. You killed Wade! How do I not know you're still out to kill?"

Peter frowned. "I - What? No, Y/N, you know I would never!"

"Give the kid a break, Y/N," Ultron's voice rang out, "After all, you did kill Drax so you're not one to judge. Maybe he's no longer in the mood to stab your heart out, the same way you did to dear Drax."

"Are you trying to help or not?" You snapped.

"I'm just trying to make you feel bad for killing Drax," Ultron laughed. And it worked, you were riddled with guilt.

Peter held up his hands. "Look, Y/N, you know that you have no control over it, or that you don't remember it! You have to trust me."

You nodded. "Right, I'm sorry."

Quill clapped Peter on the back. "Glad we're one big happy family again, but we shouldn't stay in one spot for too long."

And as if to prove a point, Nebula appeared, hatchet in hand. "Quill!" she shouted. "Come face me!"

"Awww, shit! Okay, Y/N, take the kid, go get supplies and then run like hell! I'll handle her." Quill barked and turned to face Nebula.

Peter and you ran to the cornucopia. As you got there, you saw Steve and Pietro wildly fighting over a piece of raw meat. Steve snarled and Pietro ran away. Too occupied with his victory, he did not notice you and Peter quickly gathering as many supplies as you could. A canon shot rang out and as you ran out of the cornucopia, you saw Quill standing victoriously over Nebula. He waved you over and the three of you sprinted back into the woods.

The next day you finally looked over the supplies you picked up. Indeed, there were messages from your friends. The first one was for Peter.

Peetie, I forgive you for killing me. I still love you. Please try not to die, but if you do, you'll be happy to join us in the real world. We have pizza. And proper toilets.

- Wade

The next two were for you.

Y/N, sweetheart, you're doing amazing. We're all rooting for you. We're working on a way to get all of you out before anyone else has to die. I know dying doesn't matter, but it does "hurt like a bitch." Bucky's words, not mine, so try not to.

- Tony

Brave warrior, you fought well and so took my life. But I am not dead. Do not harbor any guilt you may feel. Instead, fight on. I have sponsored you a hatchet. Use it.

- Drax

The last was for Quill.

Hey, man. I demand a rematch - in mortal kombat. Glad to see you're still alive and haven't given in to the bloodlust. Man, is Tasha pissed at me. She wanted to stick around in the games a bit longer. Oh and what the hell is happening to Steve? Anyway, Nebula says she wants a rematch too, but I know she's proud you won. I am too. P.S, thanks for killing us, because being in that simulation sucked!

- Sam

After you read the letters, you felt much better, but then another canon rang out and Ultron's snickering echoed throughout the dome.

"No kill cam for this one," Ultron said, amazement in his voice, "Steve died of hunger. Pietro came back and stole the raw meat from him."

You threw your hands up. "Come on, man!"

That night, Erik rejoined the group. The night was quiet. You treated the now infected cut on your arm as Quill and Erik told stories about themselves. Peter had wandered off into the forest to pee, and a canon boomed loudly right after he did so.

You stood up abruptly as Peter came running towards you. "I'm okay! I was ambushed by Pietro."

You comforted Peter, reminding him Pietro was not really dead, but your words fell on deaf ears.

The next day Thor joined the group, and although you were wary of him joining, it was good to have him around again. You did not understand how he maintained his usual jovial self.

But, your doubts were right and Thor turned on the group, right at the same time Erik lost it, and in the worst possible place of all.

"Do not move, Lady Y/N, your death need not be a long one!" Thor bellowed, rope in hand ready to strangle you.

You tried to dodge him, but as all of you were on a frozen lake, you slipped. Luckily for you, slipping was actually good, for Thor came crashing down as he tripped over your body, unluckily for Quill, it caused the ice to crack and break underneath him, sending him to an icy death.

You rolled away and clumsily clambered to your feet, grabbing the dropped rope as you did so. Thor rose too, and charged once more.

"Power time!" Ultron said gleefully.

Angry that Ultron would grant Thor his powers in here, you hurled curses at him.

"Come now, Y/N, I'm giving you your powers!" he chided. "Unless you don't want them?"

"I want them!" You spared a glance at Peter who was in a losing battle against Erik. "Please!"

Ultron granted you your powers, and a blue energy engulfed you. You tightened the rope in your hand and charged towards Thor, gracefully lifting yourself in the air above him and wrapping the rope around his neck. "I'm sorry, Thor!" You slammed him into the ice once your feet touched the ground.

Turning your attention to Peter, ready to fight off Erik, you were relieved to see Peter had won the fight.

He smiled at you, and you smiled back, but the the ice under him gave way and he fell in too. You shrieked, and tried to grab him out, but it was too late.

"And we have our victor! Congratulations, Y/N. I didn't know you would be the one to put Thor down," Ultron said.

The world around you started to fall apart until there was nothing but darkness.

And then, you woke up.

The whole team was surrounding you. Natasha was the first to notice your eyes flutter. "Y/N! I'm so glad you're back! I thought we'd never be able to get that machine off you!" She pulled you into a hug.

Thor wandered over, sheepishly. "Lady Y/N, I must apologize. I was not in control..."

"It's okay, Thor," you gave him a warm smile.

Tony appeared, shoving Steve out of the way and quickly pulled you out of Natasha's arms and into his. "Finally! I have good news. We know where Ultron is. And we're going to put him into his own simulation."

Steve glared at Tony. "Yes, we do. I don't know why he thought this would be a good idea. I mean, he had the Avengers asleep, trapped in that hellish world. He could have done anything, but instead, he spared our lives?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "Psychological torture, Cap. Look it up. Death would be too much of a mercy for us, and, technically, we did die. We have to live with that. We have to live with what we did in there. There's no escaping that. No recovering from it."

Wade came running into the room. "Peter! Y/N! You live!" He hugged Peter, and then you, swatting away Tony as he did so first. "It was so boring without you, I had to put up with grandpa over here!"

You chuckled. "Was Cap that bad, huh?"

"No, I mean Tony."

Tony looked offended.

Steve chuckled. "You know what, Stark? I think we're going to be okay after this."

Natasha nodded in agreement and laid her head on your lap. "Yeah, I think so too."