Black Widow had been shadowing Captain America since he had arrived in France. A week ago she had been in Washington D.C. when she Maria Hill had gotten in touch with her. She had told her that Sam Wilson was back in the states but that Captain America was still hunting down leads on Bucky and Hydra. She had immediately gone to the former soldier's house and been surprised to find him laid up with a broken leg. In just over an hour he had filled her in on everything that he and Rogers had done since they had last seen her in the cemetery. They had been quite successful in taking out several Hydra facilities but had not gained any new information on Bucky's whereabouts. Sam had told her where Steve was headed next but had not stopped at that.
"Listen Nat the big guy has got me concerned. He's pushing himself hard trying to find answers to his questions."
"After what happened in D.C. it's not really that surprising that he would be pushing hard for answers, hell maybe even a little payback," she replied to his concern.
"I agree but it's starting to wear him down," Sam fired back.
"He has the serum...," she started to say before Sam cut her off.
"Not physically Natasha, I mean mentally. Everything that has gone on these last couple of years is starting to catch up with him and it's just wearing the guy down. He barely sleeps at night from what I can tell."
"Why are you telling me this stuff Sam?" She asked.
"Because he trusts you more than anyone else, you're his closest friend right now. If you talk to him I think he'll listen." Sam answered.
Natasha could hear both the honesty and concern in Sam Wilson's voice. More so her own heart was telling her that Sam was right. Looking at the man across from her she had made her decision.
"You take care of your leg Sam, I'll go our Friend," and with that she had left.
She had headed straight to her safe house in downtown Washington where she had made a few secure phone calls. Despite all that had happened she still had a number of people around the world who owed her favours or their lives. In a couple of hours she had learned that there was a Hydra a base operating in France and that the French had it under surveillance. Her ministry contact had told her that Captain America would be arriving in a few days. She had then made another phone call to Tony Stark to ask to borrow one of his private planes to get to Paris. At first the billionaire had been reluctant but when she had mentioned it was regarding Captain America he had been more than willing to help her out and had told her that the plane would be fueled and ready for Paris in 45 minutes.
Upon arriving in Paris she had been met by her contact a high level officer in the ministry of defence who had told her that the French were going to hit the Hydra facility in a couple of days. He had given her special credentials that stated she was one of the scientific advisors who would be investigating the Hydra the facility once it was secured. She had seen Rogers arrive at the facility two days later and by then she had been able to determine what the French plan was and had made sure she was part of the ground force. Once they had arrived at the destination the scientists had been left with a small security contingent while the rest of the soldiers had gone to conduct the raid. At that point it had been easy enough to slip away and tail the assaulters to the Hydra compound. She had remained in the shadows when the raid had started even when the two helicopters were taken about by the energy beam. But when the 3 Chitauri had emerged and Steve dove from the helicopter to engage them she had entered the compound. She had been sidetracked as one of the bunkers began to unleash more fire from the energy beam weapon. Steve seemed to have the alien situation in hand so she had decided to take out the bunker. The 3 hydra soldiers inside never even saw her coming but they felt her as she struck them with her widow bites. She was just about to disable the beam weapon when she heard a cry of pain, looking up just in time she saw the blue clad Captain America fly into the side of the bunker she was in. So hard did he hit it that she felt the vibration of his impact through the wall. She looked from him to the point where he had come from and saw a figure the size of Thor emerging from a cloud of fire and smoke. Without even thinking about it she began to scramble to unhook the energy weapon from its mount.
Captain America
Steve Roger's pulled himself up to his feet and shook his head trying to clear it as the imposing figure approached him. He stopped about a few feet from the American icon and smiled at him.
"So you are Captain America," he said with disdain dripping from his voice. "I'm a called Nemesis and your skull will be the first trophy of many." He said as his hands started to take on a glow. Captain America desperately looked around for something to use as a weapon, when suddenly Nemesis was rocked by a volley of automatic weapons fire. Maicon and his command team were suddenly there firing at the creature. The giant man staggered back under the assault and the flow faded from his hands, as his men continued to fire Maicon broke off and pulled Captain America's shield out of the fallen Chitauri's neck.
"Captain, here!" He yelled out as he tossed the shield to the avenger. As Captain America caught it a roar came from Nemesis. He suddenly stood to his full height and it was if the rounds were no longer having an effect on him. His hands lit up again and a beam of energy shot from them engulfing Maicon's four man command team. One moment the men were there and then they were reduced to ash before they could even scream. Maicon screamed in outrage at the loss of him men and charged the man monster emptying his entire clip into the creature.
"Maicon no!" Cried out Captain America, but before he could do anything Nemesis fired an energy beam at him. He just got his shield up in time to absorb the blast. When he lowered the shield Maicon had already closed the distance with Nemesis, he pulled a knife from his combat harness and drove it into the beings throat. The blade snapped off and Nemesis smiled at the stunned expression on the soldiers face. The faster then could be comprehended Nemesis reached up with both hands and gripped his head, with a simple twist of his hands he tore Maicon's head from his body and tossed it away. As he dropped the body he was stuck in the chest by Captain America's shield, the impact staggered the monster and then Captain America having caught his shield on the rebound was on him.
Rogers put everything he had into every strike, he couldn't afford to let this man get on the offensive. Every blow that was thrown would have killed any ordinary man but Nemesis took one after another and came right back at him but harder. His blows came so fast and furious that Captain America was barely able to avoid them and those that he couldn't he just managed to catch on his shield. Ducking into a crouch under a particular vicious hook punch he spun with a sweeping kick that caught his opponent at ankle level and successfully knocking him off his feet. Rogers followed up with a strike from his shield but Nemesis rolled out of the way and was back on his feet in a heartbeat. Rogers brought his shield arm around in a backhand strike targeting his head. However this time Nemesis actually caught his shield and stopped him dead. Before Roger's could even react, Nemesis drove his forearm into Captain America's locked out elbow.
Steve Roger's could not contain the cry of agony that escaped his mouth as his elbow was broken, his shield falling from his useless hand. Despite the agony he drove a knee into the groin of Nemesis and this time the being actually groaned in pain and staggered back. Yet he recovered faster than the Captain expected and caught him with a hook punch to his already damaged ribs. The force of the blow threw him 5 feet into the side of the bunker, through sheer force of will he managed to get back to his feet, but he knew was he had felt something inside his chest tear and when he coughed his mouth filled with blood. He spit it out and took up his fighting stance as Nemesis came at him again. This time the man charged with reckless abandon figuring he out Captain America beat, instead of meeting him head on Steve fell backwards as he did he stuck his foot into his enemies stomach then rolling with the momentum he flipped Nemesis through the air and headfirst into the bunker and lay still. So big was the man and so hard was the impact that steel wall of the bunker was dented. Steve rolled to his knees then up to his feet, he moved as quickly as possible and gathered up his shield, but even as he did this he heard laughter behind him.
"Is that the best you have little man?" Nemesis asked as he jumped back to his feet, seemingly no worse for wear. Roger's barely had time to prepare himself before Nemesis was on him and again he found himself on the defensive barely blocking and slipping each blow meant to kill him. He managed land a blow with his shield that drove Nemesis back, as he moved to follow up Nemesis swung his fist and caught Captain America in his broken elbow. The blow staggered him and he almost blacked out as a bolt of pain exploded through him. Before he could recover he found his neck trapped in one of Nemesis's hands and he was suspended two feet off the ground, basically at eye level with the man. He tried to pry the fingers from around his neck with his one good arm but to no avail. Suddenly he found himself swinging through the air and then he was driven into the ground with incredible force. The air exploded from his body, then he was picked up again lifted high into the air and slammed down into the earth again. Blackness began to creep into his the edges of his vision and then he was picked up again and slammed back into the earth for a third time and a cry of agony escaped him as something broke inside him, he was barely conscious through the pain but he almost thought he heard someone yell his name.
Natasha had finally gotten the Hydra weapon unhooked from its mount but when she had brought it to bear on the giant of a man it had not fired. She had checked it and had noticed a display on the side that was clear, but as she watched it had gradually begun to turn blue in small increments. She realized that it was charging, she looked out and watched the fight between Captain America and the man calling himself Nemesis. It took all her training not to jump into the fight, but she realized that for all her skill she was physically no match for the beast she was watching. Hell, Captain America was barely holding on against this monster, she knew their best hope was the weapon that was charging in her hands. The breath left her body when Steve's elbow was broken and he was tossed through the air into the bunker, yet she allowed herself a moment of hope when he stood back up and somehow managed to throw Nemesis head first into the bunker. Her heart fell when she saw him rise back up and attack Steve with even more ferocity and power. The weapon began to beep as Steve was grabbed and slammed into the earth she glanced down and saw it was almost charged.
"C'mon, C'mon!" She cried as she felt more than saw Roger's get slammed into the earth again. Suddenly the sound changed from a beep to a steady tone and Natasha saw that it was fully charged. She brought it up just in time to see Steve slammed into the earth one more time. She heard the cry of agony escape her friend and something in her snapped.
"STEVE!" She yelled as she fired the weapon catching Nemesis square in the chest as he stood above Captain America. The blast of energy drove him backwards shredding the armour he was wearing, but still he stayed on his feet.
"Get away from him you bastard," she said as she unleashed another volley. This time there was no armour to protect him and Nemesis was blasted off his feet. He lay on the ground for a moment and then struggled to his feet smoke coming from his burnt chest. He got to his feet and Natasha took another step that brought her to Captain America's fallen form. She risked a brief glance down and saw a horrifying site. Captain America laid motionless his uniform torn, his mask and helmet gone, his face covered in blood. Yet she saw his chest rise and fall and knew she had to protect him. She turned to face Nemesis who was staggering forward again and unleashed another shot that dropped him again. She was amazed when he started to move again and her blood froze when he got back to his feet. She looked at him and then stepped forward placing herself between Nemesis and the fallen form of Captain America. She drew her pistol as he took a staggering step towards them and then he stopped. She knew the pistol in her hand would have no effect on him but she was not going to leave Rogers and she definitely was not going out without getting a few rounds off. Nemesis continued to stare at them for another moment before he came to some kind of conclusion