Chapter 11

"We're here for a deal between the Chinese Triad, and one Vladimir Jackson... But this is like no deal before" Cheng-Gong started, putting an arm over my shoulders and gently guiding me towards another door.

Clint stayed close behind.

"Ex-CIA" I agreed, and Cheng-Gong smiled, "I see you have done your research, Deshi. What else can you tell me about him?".

"Divorced. Two kids. Lives alone. Currently working for Scorpia. And got in contact with the Triad for some weapons" I listed off.

He nodded, "Correct. And we are going to sell him these weapons".

"Is that the best idea?" I asked quietly, "I mean, can we really trust him?".

"Of course not. But I've my men keep a visual on him for the past week or so, and he seems pretty clean" He replied, "Now so, stop worrying, it's only a small job".

I nodded once, choosing to remain quiet.

He glanced over me and sighed, abruptly stopping and turning to face me, "What is on your mind, Deshi?".

I frowned, "Nothing. I jus-".

Before I knew what had happened, he had slapped me.

Very hard.

Across the face.

"No. Lies" He hissed.

Fighting back the urge to flinch, I slowly turned back to him, blood trailing down the corner of my mouth, "I am concerned of your safety, sir. That is all".

He simply smiled.

And I really wanted to punch him right then.

Clint looked like he wanted to kill the man.

He started walking again, "My safety is none of your concern Deshi".

"I can't help but worry" I replied quietly, as I easily caught up with him "After all, what good is this organisation without its fearsome leader?".

"As much as I enjoy the compliments, I shall have to disagree" He said, "If I were to die, another man would fill my place. After him, another leader would be chosen. And so on and so forth... But I forbid you from worrying anymore. We have a job to do".

"Yes sir" I agreed and he glanced down at me, smiling slightly, before stopping in front of a large door, "This is where I leave you. Jackson shall arrive in less than 20 minutes. You know what to do from there".

I remained silent.

He seemed to think for a moment, before darkly adding, "And you even ATTEMPT to double cross me Deshi...".

"I'll pay the price" I replied quietly and he nodded, "Just as you did last time... You know, you never actually gave me an answer back then".

I gritted my teeth, glaring at him, "You know damn well that wasn't me".

"Still... A man can wonder can he not?" Cheng-Gong mused, "... How are the wounds doing?".

"Perfect scars" I growled, "You should be proud of your handiwork".

He smirked, "Knives do leave their mark, I'm afraid. But not that noticeable, I hope?".

"You'd be surprised" I muttered, before abruptly turning and pushing open the wooden door, stepping into the bare room.

He stared after me for a minute, before disappearing back down the hall.

A few minutes later, it was just me and Clint.

"So..." The Archer said suddenly, "I'm guessing you two don't get along then?".

"Cheng-Gong and I?" I asked, before scowling, "No. We don't".

"Yet when he saw you, he greeted you like a long lost friend. A brother. Part of the family" He continued and I glared at him, "You trying to say something Barton?".

"Only that I wanted to strangle him when he hugged you. And even more when he hit you" Clint shot back and I sighed, "Sorry".

"For what?".

"For not warning you about him?" I suggested, "I don't know... For snapping I guess... It's just real hard to be all nice and friendly with someone you wanna throw a brick at. He puts me in a bad mood".

"I noticed".

I shot a glare at him, "Watch it, Barton".

He grinned, raising his hands in defence, "I'm just messing Alex".

I sighed again, before abruptly looking up as there was a small knock on the door.

Clint glanced over at me and I nodded once.

He slowly walked over and opened it.

"Vladimir Jackson?" I asked, as the small overweight man stepped in, followed closely by at least seven or eight well-armed men.

It was pretty obvious who he was.

But I had to ask anyway.

He slowly nodded, "Yea... And you are?".

"Chen Cao Deshi" I replied, "Chinese Triad".

He looked around warily, "Aren't you a little... You know...".

My eyes hardened, "If you even think about making a single comment on my age, I will slit. Your. Throat. Got it?".

He gulped, quickly nodding.

I put on an easy grin, "Good. We've come to an understanding then".

"... Where are my weapons?" He asked quietly and I tapped the box I was sitting on, "Right here. All 200 barrels of them. Quiet a lot of ammo for one guy, don't you think?".

"That is none of your business" He snapped impatiently, "I see no reason as to why we can't just leave now. I have paid in advance".

"I know you have" I replied, "... But we can't quite let you leave yet".

His men tightened their grip on the guns, as I took a threatening step forward, "You shouldn't judge a book by its cover. You ever hear that phrase before?".

"... Yea" He said slowly and I smirked, "Well, in that case, I hope you understand perfectly clear when I say I am NOT from the Triad".

"But you jus-".

"Said I was in the Triad. Exactly" I finished, "But I also said 'Don't judge a book by its cover'. Which you seem to not understand".

Clint's phone rang and he answered it, hanging up a few seconds later and nodding at me.

I grinned, "Perfect timing".

A split second later, Natasha, Ben and Stark walked in, and that's when all hell broke lose.

The SHIELD team burst through the doors, just as Jackson grabbed a gun, pointed it in the air, and fired.

Within seconds, the entire room was filled with gun shots and bullets.

I quickly ran across the room, shooting behind me at the man who was set on killing me tonight.

We had all been in this little war game for at least half an hour.

SHIELD and the Avengers, against Jackson and his men.

Once things started getting pretty heated, everyone brought out the big guns, which, thankfully, made Natasha toss me a gun, but unforcently, also included Jackson calling for backup.

We were out-numbered.

But we were winning.

Stumbling slightly as I felt a blow to the side, I spun around and shot the man for the last time, watching as he crumbled to the ground, before glancing down at myself.

I had been shot.

The bullet had grazed by my side, causing a lot of blood, and an equal amount of pain.

And just above my hip, the red liquid was slowly forming.

Ben would murder me.

Automatically hitting the ground as more gun fire came my way, I jumped back to my feet and began running towards the stack of boxes near me.

Once there, I quickly slid backwards, swinging my legs over the crate and dropping down behind it for cover, wincing as the movement aggravated my side.

Swearing lightly, I looked up only to find a blond-haired solider staring back at me with worry-filled blue eyes, "You ok kid?".

I glanced down at his blue, red, and white uniform, "... Steve Rogers?".

He nodded, smiling slightly, "Yep".

I looked over at his shield, "... Captain America?".

He nodded again.

I met his gaze again, staring at him, "... Where the FUCK have you been the past two days?".

He grinned, "Sorry kid. Bruce and I had a mission up North. I'll explain everything later... Alex Rider right?".

"The one and only" I replied smirking, "I presume you've be briefed?".

"Of course" He replied smiling, "You and and Agent Daniels are here to help out with Scorpia. MI6, isn't it?".

"Correct once again, Cap" I replied.

He frowned slightly, "Aren't you a little...".

"Young?" I asked, "Yea. I'm 16".

He froze, "... 16?".

"Yea. 16. And I'll explain that later as well... But now, however- " I reloaded and clocked my gun, " -We've got to win this".

He grinned, glancing around the corner before throwing his shield at someone just as I opened fire again.

This was going to be a long night.

About an hour later, we had secured the location, and finally allowed ourselves to stop rushing around and actually breathe for once.

I muttered a quick thanks to the SHIELD teams leader, before wandering over to where the others were.

Clint and Natasha were quietly talking amongst themselves in the corner, with a few minor scrapes here and there.

Stark was talking to who I presumed to be Bruce Banner, with a huge dent in his armour that was littered around the floor, and his arm in a sling with a rather large cut across his forehead. The doctor himself seemed to be in perfectly good health, if not a little tired, and as I got closer, I could hear the two of them muttering something about the 'acquisition of immunohistological resistance'.

And Steve and Ben were chatting away happily together across from them, grinning and laughing occasionally as they got to know one another.

When he saw me, however, Ben's smile dropped just a fraction and he suddenly stood up, walking past the others and practically running to me.

He abruptly stopped in front of me, "... Show me".

I frowned, "Show you what?".

His grin fell completely, "Where you got hurt".

"I didn't get hurt" I replied and he glared at me, "You got hurt. I know".

"His would you know wether I got hurt or not?" I asked.

He swore, "For fucks sake Alex, look at you! You're deathly pale, you shaking slightly, and you look as guilty as hell! Now, where. Are. You. Hurt?".

I paused, "... It's only a graze".

He stared at me, "You... You got shot?".

I avoided his gaze, "The bullet just brushed past. It's nothing serious".

"Nothing serious?" He asked quietly, "NOTHING. SERIOUS?".

"Keep your voice down" I hissed, before sighing and running a hand through my hair, "It's not that bad Ben. As I said, the bullet only brushed by".

He let a shaky breath, "8 times Alex. 8. Fucking. Times".

"I know, and I'm sorry. I can't help it" I replied quietly and he frowned, "It's all Jones fault... And it's about time I fixed that".

He turned to walk away but I quickly caught his arm and spun him back around, "Don't do it Ben".

"Why not?" He growled, "Have you just given up fighting? Is that it? Or do you actually LIKE being forced to do MI6's dirty work now".

I knew there was only one thing I could say to that.

The one thing that would get him to stay and hopefully keep his job.

Even if that one thing was a lie.

I took a deep breath, "Yes".

He stared at me, "... Yes?".

"Yes I like being MI6. Yes I like going on missions. And yes I like doing all of this" I replied.

Lie. Lie. Lie.

He glared at me, roughly pulling his arm out of my grip, "You've changed Alex... I barely know you anymore".

Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

"Ben, wait" I called after him, but he just ignored me and continued to storm out.

I ignored the worrying looks from the other Avengers, before walking off in the opposite direction, disappearing around the corner.

If he wouldn't listen to me, how could I talk to him.