We Have A Situation

A pit formed in Toni's stomach as the gun was held to her head and the ransom video was shot. She knew S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't negotiate. But, just this once, she selfishly hoped they would. She was without her suit, and multiple sets of zip ties bound her to the chair. One set she could escape just fine, but not twelve. Or was it thirteen? She'd lost count. They chaffed her wrists, scraping the wounds she'd made trying to yank her hands free. She kept her face blank as the red light of the camera flashed, indicating that it was on.

As soon as it was finished, they left her, locking the only door and stationing guards outside. Four, from what she could make out.

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Hours later, a recording from S.H.I.E.L.D. came. They watched it in front of her, trying to taunt her.

Fury faced the camera, shoulders straight, the Avengers and Hill behind him. "We have received your demands. Unfortunately, S.H.I.E.L.D. does not negotiate. Not even for Antonia Stark. Return her, or things will get ugly. That is a promise, not a threat." His single eye seemed to go through the camera and burn a hole right through her.

Toni's heart sank. She was trapped. Then she caught the Avengers faces in the background.

Thor was wearing his fierce battle-face, and beside him Natasha's expression was blank, but her arms were folded, revealing that she disagreed with Fury. Clint basically glared at the camera. Bruce looked like the Hulk was just waiting to make an appearance, and Steve's jaw was clenched and his eyes had a quiet fire to them, showing he was absolutely pissed. Toni had only seen that look leveled at her once before, and that was when they fought on the Helicarrier thanks to the Tesseract's influence. He looked ready to run into battle, as did the others.

Her hope returned. They would come for her, no matter what Fury said.

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Sure enough, she was rescued exactly twenty-one hours and sixteen minutes later. They took down every single person who'd held her captive, and she was soon on a jet flying back to the Tower.

She was feeling odd from the effects of no food or water for over a day and little sleep, so when Steve knelt in front of her, eyes shining with concern, she reached up and touched his cheek, smiling a tired smile. "I knew you'd come for me."

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Songs for this story

- Dust In The Wind by Kansas

- Out of Our Heads by The Dropkick Murphys

- Titanium by David Guetta (feat. Sia)

- human by Christina Perri