My ears were ringing as I blinked several times. I realized that I had had been flung over one of the desk from the explosion. I grabbed the desk and pulled myself to my feet. I saw Steve and Tony racing out of the room. Fury was talking into his earpiece, ordering people around and Thor was already gone. Natasha and Bruce had got the worst of hit, having been flung out of the window to the lab. My vision started to blur with red, I wiped my face to find blood dripping from my forehead.
A wave of vertigo hit me and I wasn't sure from the explosion or the maelstrom emotions that I was feeling. I had so many emotions rushing through my me; some panicked, some calm, some in pain, and some...well, some were almost gone.
Suddenly, I heard Natasha's faint whisper, "I'm stuck down in the lower equipment room. Possibly a bruised or fractured leg. Banner is here, but he's about to lose it. Sinclair, you need to get down here and calm him down before he destroys the entire ship,"
I mentally groaned, "Shit," I muttered.
I placed a hand to my earpiece, "Slight problem, Romanoff. My head took a nasty hit. I don't know how much use I would be, look I could teleport down there and get you, but then Bruce will tear this helicarrier apart," I explained, pacing around the room and realizing I was alone now. "I hope you're fast runner," I added, suddenly I felt his anger surge like a knife and I gasped, clutching my chest.
"Did you seriously just say that?" Natasha asked incredulously.
"Sinclair, on the bridge with me!" Fury ordered, before I could respond to Natasha.
I place my finger back on my earpiece, "On it," I replied.
I ran out of the destroyed lab and into the corridor where I was surrounded by utter pandemonium. I sprinted up flights of stairs and hopped over bodies in my way. I stopped dead in my tracks at the sound of a guttural roar blasting through the entire helicarrier, and felt my blood run cold. A spike in anger told me that the Hulk, had been unleashed somewhere. I could also feel fear, most likely from Natasha.
"One minute out, Fury," I reported, turning a corner.
I stopped short at the sight of five men in black uniforms coming from the opposite direction. They had S.H.I.E.L.D. emblems on their shoulders. Rogue soldiers. As one opened a grenade, I sprinted towards the bridge.
"Grenade!" I yelled, as I jumped away from the exploding grenade.
Debris flew everywhere and I hissed in pain as exploding plastic and metal cut my shoulders. I rolled over and watched as Fury single-handedly take out three of the invading soldiers. Catching a glimpse of another soldier in the doorway, I grabbed a gun that was on the floor. Two gunshots went off at the same time. Fury looked first at me and then back at Hill, who had her handgun out, and nodded. We had both just saved his life.
"Sir, the Hulk will tear this place apart," Hill reported, shouting over the chaos in the bridge.
"Get his attention!" Fury yelled, firing at the doorway where more rogue soldiers stood.
The bridge was in total chaos. I coughed as smoke blew in my direction when suddenly an arrow hit the rail next to me. I snapped my head up and caught a glimpse of Clint up in the rafters. Without hesitating, I aimed and shot my gun at Clint. He dodged the bullet and aimed an arrow at me. I rolled away towards the monitors, hoping I was moving fast enough so Clint wouldn't be able to hit me.
I don't think I was his true his target because he shot his next arrow at the computer system. The fight stopped suddenly as the computers went crazy and then shut completely down. I looked around surprised as Fury glanced at the dark computer screens and then up at the Clint's perch. He aimed his gun at Clint, but missed and Clint turned around disappeared.
"It's Barton, he took our systems," Fury said into the comm system. "He's headed for the detention lab. Does anybody copy?"
I was on my feet and running in the direction of the detention lab, "This is Sinclair, I copy,"
Soon I was soundlessly walking behind Clint. He quickly turned, drawing an arrow from his quiver, and prepared to shoot me. Bringing one of my batons up, I blocked the shot and hit the bow off center.
"Hey, remember me? Wanna go for a second round?" I quipped.
Clint stumbled a bit, but gathered his footing, swiping at me with the metal bow tip. I leaned back and kicked my foot up, knocking the bow out of his hand. I quickly grabbed my other baton and connected them together making it into a bo staff, I swung it at Clint who jumped back, blocking the weapon with his arm guards. I tossed my weapon away and attacked Clint with my fists, jabbing and punching, trying to score a hit that would weaken him just enough for me to capture Clint.
The two of us went back and forth neither us managing to get the upper hand. Clint pulled a knife out from his boot and swung at me and bent backwards into a backhand spring kick that landed on Clint's chin sending him stumbling backwards. I charged forward and landed a spinning hook kick against Clint's face and he fell back. Between gravity and the force from my kick, Clint turned to grab on to something to steady his fall, but missed. He hit his head on the metal railing. The entire catwalk echoed with the sound and he slumped to the ground.
"This is Sinclair. Agent Barton has been neutralized," I reported into my earpiece. "Taking him to the med wing to recover from cognitive control. Does anyone copy?"
"Copy that, Sinclair," Hill said.
"Agent Coulson is down," Fury stated.
My breath stopped short as I signaled to S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers to take Clint to the med wing.
"Medic team is on its way," Hill said.
"They're here," Fury replied. My eyes pricked with unshed tears. "They called it," I closed my eyes and silent tears rolled down my face.
Coulson was gone. The first person to make me feel welcomed was gone. "Sinclair, attend to Agent Barton and debrief him when he comes to,"
"Yes sir," I sighed.
I wiped my face clean of tears with my sleeve and picked up my bo staff and I began to walk quickly in the same direction that they took Clint.
As I stepped into the med wing I glanced at Clint before turning around and looked around and opened a cabinet for pain relievers for my head. I turned at the sound of a groan and watched as Clint shifted on the bed. A bump already began to form on his head and I grabbed a freeze pouch to put on it. As I reached over him, an arm reached up quickly and grabbed my wrist.
"Who are you?" He spoke gruffly, but his grip weakened and his hand fell from me as his eyes closed again. "What did you do to me?"
"Well, you attacked me," I glanced to the ceiling in thought. "I concussed you," I explained simply.
His eyes snapped open, "Where am I?"
"On one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s helicarriers," I placed the freeze pouch on his head and his eyes twitched. "The force from the blow seems to have...knocked you back to your senses,"
"Interesting," he mumbled. "And—who are you?"
"Surprised you don't remember me, I kicked your ass last year," I stood up to pour myself some water. "Its Amara—"
"Sinclair," I turned as he finished my name. He raised an eyebrow. "I remember you,"
I smirked and spread my arms, "What can I say? I'm that good. I knocked you out twice didn't I?"
Clint scoffed, "First time doesn't count, you used a cheap trick—"
"Oh please," I whipped around still smirking. "I didn't need my powers to put you on your back," I replied, and he let out a soft chuckle.
Suddenly the door slid open and Natasha entered the room, her expression grim.
"How is he?" Natasha asked.
I nodded, "He'll live," I answered. "I'll leave you two alone. Where are the others?" I asked, as I made my way out of the room.
"Dr. Banner and Thor are no longer with us—"
"What?" I asked confused.
"They're not on the craft, they were forcibly removed according to Fury. And Loki has escaped,"
I groaned and put a hand to my head, "Where's Stark and Rogers?" I asked.
"The detainment room," Natasha answered, and I nodded before leaving.
AN: Keep the love coming!
