Steve entered the training arena, to spot Natasha doing some serious training. He crossed his arms over his chest leaning against the door. She was going through an extreme obstacle course Tony built for 'Avengers Only'. It wasn't easy. The music was blaring and Natasha wasn't holding back any punches.
She was everywhere attacking with fists, feet and Tony's favorite: thighs. Steve shook his head, its been 70 years and things have changed but he hasn't. He has no trouble about women in the military, that's where he had met his soul-mate. The thought of her brings a smile. The women in the 1940s had class. The way they wore their hair to the craze of their makeup. Their dresses were elegant and their hats... Steve blinked fighting the feeling of homesickness.
He focused on Natasha knowing that if she could read his thoughts she would have no problem stabbing him in the chest.
The female assassin looked like she was dancing with every movement she made. Steve observed her fighting technique. She was small and agile.
"Yo, dirty old man, stop staring," she called out turning off the course while patting the sweat off of her neck.
Steve grin, "sorry to pry. I came down to work some stress out."
"Wanna spar?"
The captain nod, "yeah."
She smiled, "I'll show you some moves to update you."
He rolled his eyes. They return blows quickly back and forth. Steve remembered to hold back just a little. Two hours later Natasha taught him tricks that he never knew he could use.
"You can use your whole body, I find it easier," she said, "it throws your enemy off."
"I think if I wrap my thighs around someone's neck it'll throw them off alright," said Steve.
Natasha laughed, "Hawk would say something like that." She started toward the water cooler.
Steve nod walking toward her, "yeah, wait till-" He was cut off as Nat ran toward him leaping up wrapping her legs over him and flipping him onto his back.
"See? Easy?"
Steve groaned.
"Come on, big baby," She helped him up. "Or should I say old man."
He rolled his eyes and stood. "Its time to call it a night."
"Yeah." They headed toward the elevator in silence. The training exercise help ease their mind and worry. Now that it was over the dark cloud of nauseous worry came back like a black fog.
Nat's voice was small, "Clint is in trouble."
Steve knew better than to talk.
"He has uh his safety um spots..." She shrugged looking at her hands, "when things get too hard and he needs the space." Her eyes flooded with anxiety, "he wasn't there, Steve. Its been four weeks and I don't even know where he is."
Steve rubbed her shoulder.
Natasha called Clint's secret love that ONLY she knew about: Laura. When Laura answered there was nothing but smiles and rainbows in her voice.
"Hey Natty how are you and Clint doing?"
Natasha lied telling her that all was good and the reason she called was to complain about Clint's teasing of her.
"Nat, I swear to you we will find Hawkeye," Steve said to her as they stepped out of the elevator.
A scream echoed off the walls "Pepper!"
Both Avengers braced themselves as Tony came running down the hall. Every light came on.
"Sir, you are having a nightmare," said JARVIS, Tony's artificially intelligent computer system and security.
Tony blinked looking around confused. He was standing in boxers and a t-shirt shivering more from embarrassment than the cold. "What the hell?"
Natasha bit her lip from laughing.
"You alright Stark?" asked Steve.
Tony turned mumbling leaving the other two agents hugging their sides from laughter.
He didn't care. He was too tired to care. Tony brushed his fingers through his hair and laid back down on his cot in the lab.
"Sir, do you require any more assistance?" asked JARVIS.
"No."
A whirling sound caught Tony's ear and he turned to see Dummy Jr. holding a soda can. "Go away, or I swear dump you back in the ocean. JARVIS turn out the lights." The lights went off and Tony stared at the tiny green and blue lights in the lab. He had another nightmare. It was Pepper this time. It was the fall to her death.
Tony placed his hand over his chest, there was just a huge ugly scar where the reactor had been. He wished Pepper was there with him. She would wrap an arm over his shoulder and slip her fingers in between his. Pep would whisper in his ear.
Iron Man closed his eyes almost feeling the most wonderful woman in his life next to him. She brought warmth and comfort to him (even when she was yelling at him). Tony had mountains of issues with him. He was broken and he used girls, money and booze to hide it. Only Ms. Pots truly saw through all that.
His phone rang and Tony answered.
"Tony? JARVIS alerted me about your nightmare." Pepper's voice was thick with worry.
Tony groan, was JARVIS becoming more human than robot? "I'm fine Hun."
"Really?"
"Wish you were here." He heard her sigh and he wanted to climb through the phone to be with her.
"Me too, Tony please promise me that you'll be safe."
His eyes were closed and he nod.
"Tony?"
He opened his eyes, "I promise. Love you sweet Pepper."
"Love you too."
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The next morning Natasha trotted downstairs with a duffle bag over her shoulder, "who called it?"
Steve looked up from his coffee and Tony turned from where he was sitting to see the assassin.
"That's right I did," she said. "Fury wants me to track Banner down."
Tony grinned, "get that big boy back here and Clint will be hugging the crap out of all of us."
Natasha nod, "give me a ride will ya?"
Tony rolled his eyes then looked around, it'll do some good to get out. "Fine, better than hanging out with Star 'n Stripes here."
Steve didn't say anything.
Natasha nod.
"I got a call from Maria, she and I are getting together," said Steve.
"About time," said Tony, "I always thought a girl would loosen you up."
"We're working together," said Steve. "Reviewing every little thing Clint did that day. We are obviously missing something."
The two nod.
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"We are brothers, how could you have forgotten so quickly?"
Clint could barely lift his head. Blood filled his mouth and blocked his sight, but he knew who was talking. He was dangling off of chains and his clothing were blood soaked and tattered. His mind is like a bag of cats, you can smell crazy on him, Nat had told Clint on how Bruce described Loki, but its clear that Bruce has never met William Snark.
"You are a traitor, Hawkeye," said Snark, "It saddens me. Loki showed us truth then you turned on him. You took him away and killed the rest of my unit."
"Not... true," Clint said spitting out blood.
"I'm going to kill every single one of you. Don't worry I have the resources. The only ones that will be a pinch tricky is the bastard brother of our sweet Loki and that green monster." Snark stepped into the hazy blue light coming from computer screens. There were scars covering the insane man's face. "I got you, I was going to get our comrade Romanoff but she's off to Africa which is fine. It only means my next target will be genius billionaire Tony Stark. You see he is very weak. Oh sure he saved the president or whatever but he is scared." Snark laughed, "I'm excited, aren't you?"
"Snark it won't work, we fought an alien army, you're just one man."
Snark calmly smiled and grabbed a bottle of vinegar. "You see, you're the failure. We together were picked by Loki in those labs. He just grabbed your arm and tapped your chest. Hawkeye you wanted to be chosen. The mighty Hawkeye being turned?" Snark laughed and torn Clint's shirt wider suddenly pouring the vinegar on his wounds, "I was going to use whiskey, but what the hell?"
Clint clenched his teeth in agony.
"Be a good boy. You'll die soon." Snark went over to the computers, "Black Archer you're a go when you're ready."
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Maria found an envelope that was blank lying on her desk. Curiously, she opened it to read:
List of five
List of five
Is the game we play
I got your birdie
Do you truly hear me?
I'm going to make our day
Its the Itsy Bitty Spider
I think you guys know her
Once she gone its the game of four
Maria dropped the note as if it had turned into a hot coal. Where did this come from? Is this a clue to Clint's disappearance? Of course it is! Mara picked up his phone. That night that Clint was taken will forever burned into her soul. She didn't let Clint scarlet colored blood that poolled the gound go unnoticed. Maria wanted this man. "Steve I got something, I'll be there ASAP!"
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"Who would write this?" questioned Maria. "Its clear the next target is Natasha by the spider reference."
"Yes and the birdie is Clint."
"I wonder if he's still alive."
Steve leaned back in his seat with a weary shrug, "I don't know. Who ever this is, is clearly crazy. The poem makes that clear. Maybe its no body and he could be running his mouth, but-"
"Who would take an insane man seriously?" Maria finished for him.
"Exactly."
Maria just shook her head frustrated and pinched the bridge of her nose, a sign that she herself haven't been getting much sleep. "I want this jerk." Clint was just too good of a guy to lose his life. He was that happy go-lucky, people person that everyone loved, well, when he wasn't working. "I really do."
"Natasha, still thinks that he is alive. I want to believe her but...its been weeks without any word and no sign..." he took a breath, "I hope that there is some type of psychic power going on..." Maria made a face, Steve shrugged, "So far little has been surprising me. But maybe Natasha can be completely right. But I just don't have the faith..." Steve was about to stand up.
Maria leaned over and touched his forearm, "me too. Let's call everyone together tonight to talk in a conference call."
He looked into her rueful eyes, the look of pain were registered deep inside those cobalt blue pupils. He nod.
"I'm going home to take a nap after my shift," she suggested, "then we will all meet about six."
He chuckled, "I was going to tell you to do that."
She flashed a smile, "can't. I'm on duty for a couple of more hours." They stood up.
"And I thought you made your own hours."
Maria shrugged "I can call you with more details if I get some in." Maria patted his arm and started for the door.
He felt reluctant for her to leave. "You need to go home and sleep."
"No, I'll be fine."
"Maybe-"
Maria wouldn't budge, "I'm fine."
Steve crossed his arms, "Maria you have been up for hours on end and you look like a zombie. Now move."
"Do I smell like one?" she smiled.
"Gross!"
"Ha, you should smell my armpits."
Steve tried to hold back his laughter as he poked her in the ribs. "Take a shower before getting into bed."
Maria felt hesitant to obey, what if something shows up? What if they finally get a lead on this monster? She started to turn around,"What if I just-"
Steve Rogers read her mind, "get!"
"Yes sir."
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Tony watched Natasha's plane fly off before heading toward the car. He was beginning to feel no hope for this case. Its been four weeks and no clue. No one thinks he cares but he does. He wasn't the team player type but that's beginning to change. He should get together with Rhodey. Things were getting too heavy. He made it to the door of his car when a black arrow struck him in the back. Tony fell forward.
HOPE YOU ALL LIKE! :-) LOOOONG DAY LOL