Captain America
The third time was surprising to say the least. A close quarters battle, the aim was to get to the centre of a top secret facility where the bio-toxin to end all bio-toxins was being stored before its sale at noon the next day. A standard mission, but with very thorough defences requiring the varied skillsets of the Avengers.
Stark had got them through the security system with information provided by the very persuasive Natasha and Thor was escorting Banner through the building in an attempt at keeping the other guy from making an appearance. Banner was needed more for his brain than brawn on this mission. The Captain took the front line with Stark while the two assassins watched their backs and took out anyone they could. It was your classic white-walled and fluorescent-light-lit facility where sounds echoed, the hallways made up a labyrinth and an army of mercenaries were on staff.
It was going well; Stark, Rogers and Romanoff had reached the centre leaving a trail of bodies for Thor and Banner to follow while Barton had an assortment of perches to shoot from. White like the rest of the facility, this room was large – a high ceiling with catwalks and exposed roof supports to Barton's delight – and in the centre a smaller, enclosed laboratory where the bio-toxin and the mad scientist were hiding out. However the entirety of the floor space was occupied by the aforementioned mercenaries, armed with an array of bioweapons with effects that ranged from knocking you out to killing you. Given that half of the Avengers were either superhuman or enclosed completely in metal, S.H.I.E.L.D. had decided that they were the ideal team to handle the situation.
Barton and Stark took air support while Rogers and Romanoff went in close-quarters. Between the four of them they were able to keep the mercenaries at bay without being overwhelmed. It was just a matter of avoiding being shot and outlasting the enemy.
When it happened, it was a complete accident. Steve was surrounded by mercenaries, using his shield to block their darts then knocking them out cold with an unsuspected punch or kick and finally throwing his shield at a target before the next wave came at him. He threw his shield at one of the mercenaries to his right, running to join the next group forming. At the same moment the mercenary tripped over thin air and fell to the ground. It was bad luck that Natasha happened to be in a direct line behind him.
Natasha was over being graceful after she had disposed of her fiftieth mercenary. The battle was all about conserving energy and she had already run out of ammo after a few doors had needed blasting open. Her spare clips had been lost in a previous scuffle. She concentrated on making hits that would take the mercenaries out of the battle rather than just unarm them. Surrounded on all sides with needle-tipped darts flying everywhere her mind was busy keeping an eye on any movement. The darts were small so she supposed that to an observer she looked like she was showing off, doing multiple flips and spins for no apparent reason, but each time she narrowly missed a dart aimed at her. A large shield flying towards her caught her attention at the last second and she was able to twist enough with the impact to absorb some of the force but not miss it entirely.
The room seemed to freeze for a moment, everyone surprised that the relentless woman had been thrown to the ground by friendly fire no less. Barton and Stark took advantage of the sudden lull, finishing off most of the mercenaries with a few blasts and an explosive arrow or two. Those that remained dropped their weapons and surrendered.
Steve reached Natasha first being the closest. A few hits to the mercenaries that had closed in on the Widow – the few that hadn't already been downed after she grabbed the enemy gun lying on the ground next to her – and he was kneeling at her side.
"I'm so sorry, the guy moved and then you were behind him and I'm just really sorry, Natasha," he babbled, pulling his shield off of her and helping her sit up.
"It's fine, Steve," she managed, hissing as her most definitely broken ribs were jostled.
Barton slid down the closest ladder and jogged over to his partner, dodging Stark as he landed near her feet. "Nat?" he asked taking up position on her other side.
"I'm fine."
"You're hurt," he countered. "How bad are your ribs?"
"Not bad. Same as Cairo."
"Come on then, let's get you up." Together he and Steve pulled Natasha to her feet.
"Nice work, Captain," Stark commented, lifting up his head plate, "first time you miss your target and you manage to not only hit one of the four good guys in the room but also miss the hundred or so bad guys. The odds are unbelievable."
"Shut up, Stark," Natasha ordered, standing of her own will but holding one arm to her torso.
"What?" he asked innocently, "I'm just stating the facts."
"Well stop."
Steve looked down at Natasha with a upset look on his face. She would have said that out of the two of them he looked to be in more pain. "I can't say how sorry I am, Natasha. I had no idea that you were there. I should have been more careful." The sincerity in his eyes alone would have made her forgive him if she hadn't already.
"You stop as well," she ordered, "you've got nothing to be sorry for. Things like this happen all the time, especially in situations like this. I'm fine, just a little bruised. Now if you don't mind I'd really like to finish this mission today."
"Alright, you heard the lady," Stark said, replacing the face plate and turning to the lab in the middle of the room.
Banner and Thor made a timely entrance and Stark took the opportunity to blow one of the doors off of the lab. Thor who had missed out on the majority of the battle gleefully deflected the lone scientist's attacks and pinned him to the wall. With a last look at Natasha, to which she responded with a nod, Steve left to go rescue the scientist from Thor and to start questioning him. Stark and Banner went about readying the bio-toxin for transport.
"You still fine, Natasha?" Barton asked when the others were out of hearing range.
"Always and forever," she responded with a dry smile.
"So you don't want me to call for clean-up to deal with the mercenaries that are currently starting to come to?"
"Oh no, you still get to do that. Gives them something to do."
Barton chuckled and put in a call to headquarters. "You lot over there ready to go?" he called out to the others.
"Good to go," Steve answered, the scientist in the secure grip of Stark and Banner carefully holding a locked silver briefcase. As a group they escorted the scientist out of the building to the waiting transport, the assassins lagging behind.
"I can help you if you want," Barton offered as Natasha delicately navigated the unconscious bodies while suppressing a wince with every step.
"I'm fine," she said firmly, "besides, don't need to give Rogers any more of a guilt-trip."
"Sure?"
She pulled Barton's spare gun from his leg holster and in one move shot the mercenary that had been trying to sneak up on Banner and the briefcase.
"I'm sure."
