Hush AND Blood
Coulson wakes to find that he can't move. His eyes widen and he sees that he's actually tied to a chair. He makes noise, but it's all muffled as he realizes that he's gagged. His head hurts, he's tied up and gagged. What the hell happened? Coulson couldn't remember anything.
He snaps awake, had he drifted off? Where was he? It looked like one of the interrogation rooms within SHIELD, but.. But it looked, blasted? Soot, smoke stains, blackened chair and table in the corner. HAD SOMEONE BOMBED SHIELD?! Panic sets in and he starts thrashing against his tethers. Yelling things through his gag. Mind reeling with images of his friends dead, or dying.
There's a bang and something drops to the floor. It's dark and hazy, but he can make out that shape. That's a bow. He yells Barton's name through the gag and the person moves closer, more towards him. IT IS BARTON! Relief floods through his veins like adrenaline. He's trying to tell Barton to untie him, trying to ask him what has happened, but Barton just stands there. Bow in one hand, a knife in his other.
Blood drains from Coulson's face. He REMEMBERS. He remembers the bomb. The blast radius taking out seven floors of SHIELD. He vaguely remembers lying beside someone, smelling burnt flesh and ears ringing so loud that it drowned out the screaming that the burning someone was doing. Now he's trying to plead with Barton, knowing full well that this was all because of that fucking registration act.
Barton saunters closer. Dropping his bow beside Coulson's foot, but keeping the knife in hand. "Hello.. Phil. Seems like you and I had an understandin' didn't we?" His eyes harden and Coulson shakes, really and truly scared. Barton has snapped and he knew why. He tries to yell that he tried to save her, tried. Yells that he was going to help, yells but it does no good behind the gag.
"Seems like we should have been on the same side, Phil. You, me... Natasha... Why didn't you SAVE HER?!" Barton screams the last in Coulson's face. Coulson is shaking, eye whites showing, near in hysterics himself as he remembers how Natasha had died. He SHOULD have been able to save her after. He's sobbing, not able to catch his breath because of the gag and because he knows Barton's right.
A change takes place and there's the old Barton. His eyes are softer and he has his arms around Coulson. "Shhhh, stop, there, there. Stop Phil, it's alright. She's gone, but it's alright. She's at peace finally. We gave her peace..." Coulson wasn't able to relax though because with every word Barton said, the knife got closer and closer. "Shhh, we loved her and she's at peace now.. Shhh, be still, it'll only hurt for a moment." That was the last lie Phil Coulson ever heard. The pain lasted an eternity.
