HH: If you think that's drama wait till you read this chapter hahahahahahahmuwahahahahhhaha.
Jo: Well their evil can be determined by you, but their main roles are in the Bucky story thought :D. Aww me? Funny? I guess a little xD. Thanks for thinking so otherwise this story would be pretty pointless. Lol well I wasn't planning on taking a break but it seems I was forced into it, but this story was on my mind the entire Christmas. My plan is to get this done before New Years. Fingers crossed.
CJ: I love how long your reviews/indepth letters, are. Wow johnny was your first hero? I think mine was Batman, and then Spiderman. Sighhh Bruce is so dreamy. Chris Evans is like a puppy, so cute. Has that weird rush of energy and then suddenly gets all serious, aawww now I miss my dog :(. SO I checked out your song choices and I LOVE THEM. I didn't know Sleeping At Last covered that song, its like my favourite Snow Patrol song, but I dont listen to it often because it makes me cry like alot. I heard their Already Gone cover while I was at it, it was awesome. Aww it's so sweet that you actually have songs selected for my fanfiction. EEEEP I could just hug you. I'll send you a virtual one *HUG* DID YOU GET IT? To answer your question. Yes Bucky will get a love interest, not it will not be during the Winter Soldier arch but right after it ^^. You will see what I mean once I publish it, I honestly cant wait for you guys to read it.
Supesfan18: Thanks :).
Amaliaunstrup: I grew up around Jim Reeves woman and its going to stay that way. But the Bing Crosby one is still good. Pepper is the bomb. lol Pepperbomb. YES I DARE IN THIS AND THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS. MWUAHAHAHAHAHAH.
Alright guys, here is the big announcement (no I am not pregnant or getting my hair dyed) This is the third chapter before the finale. DUN DUN DUUUUUUN. ( or wait, I think its the fourth. I might add a bonus chapter later ;), maybe the events of Olivia's bday :D)
Disclaimer: I do not own Humbug, only my original characters.
xx
SSC
Steve Rogers was having the strangest day. He thought waking up in the 21st century and then facing aliens in New York was weird, but this was somewhere in between.
He had to use STRIKE in order to stop a robbery at Lone bank in Baltimore. Normally SHEILD would let the local authorities deal with such an issue but this was a different classified matter. The person robbing the bank was a super of some sort, and it was the strangest one Steve had come across yet.
The crime was being committed by the help of...insects.
The creepy crawlers had created a path from the entrance to the vaults in a stream of brown, arthropods. It was quite the disgusting sight, even the Captain was disgruntled by it, even more so when they tried to take a stand against them.
It took a great deal of time, especially when the bugs came into the defense of their master, but once the apprehended the controller, they scurried off in a haste down to the sewers from which they came.
"Ew."
Steve, Natasha, Kevin and the STRIKE team were currently heading their way back to base using the Quin-Jet. The criminal was successfully apprehended and placed in cuffs.
His name was Mr. Buchanan Mitty AKA Humbug. The man was a entomologist who worked at the Empire State University. But severe budgets cuts that delayed his research tempted him to a life of crime. He wore a dark, metallic, grey armored suit that lacked a helmet. He had a very deformed face. Patched of hair on his balding head, pincers sprouted from the corners of his mouth and some odd skin peeled rash on his face.
Other than his appearance, the strangest part was according to his file the man had tried to change his life around after joining Heroes for Hire, which was why his set back was unprecedented. Natasha did not find any surprise in this, Steve couldn't help but remember the man seemed a little too vacant in the eyes during the battle.
The battle of bugs that Kevin was still shuddering over.
"EW!" He suddenly shrieked, gyrating and flexing as if trying to shake something off his back.
"Calm down, Odell." Steve ordered while trying to steady the man.
"Calm down?!" He hissed at the Captain while stretching his arm over his back. "You weren't propelled two feet into the air and into a pile of cockroaches. I think one of them slipped into my undies."
Kevin's despairing, gaze moved to the passive red-haired spy and looked to her pleadingly.
"Help me Naaat." He begged turning his back to her and gesturing to his rear end.
Steve and Natasha simultaneously grimaced.
"I am not putting my hand in there." She bit back, crossing her arms over her chest to show her resolve.
"But I can't reach-" He stilled, the disgust on his face easing. "Oh wait, I think it was just my suit riling up."
Steve rolled his eyes as Kevin grinned sheepishly.
"So let me get this straight Mr. Mitty, your statement is that you were knocked out on December the thirtieth and the next thing you know you woke up to being apprehended by S.H.I.E.L.D personnel, is that right?"
"Yes." The man responded bluntly, but the stirrings of his rage was beginning to show in his clenched jaw muscles and narrowed eyes. Steve was watching the whole interrogation from behind the two way mirror.
Agents William and Nakatsu had been questioning the man since he was brought into HQ, three hours ago. The answers always remained a constant streams of dismissals. Steve wasn't sure if the man was lying or not.
"And you have no memory of using your..unique abilities in controlling insects to terrify civilians and orchestrate a robbery into the Lone Bank?" Nakatsu repeated.
"Yes, for the millionth time!" Mitty exclaimed, struggling against his cuffs and glaring up at the two broad shouldered Agents."I did not do this I swear, you can even put me on a lie detector test. I was attending meeting with the H.F.H and the next thing I know I was waking up to being taken in by you guys."
H.F.H Aka Hero's for Hire. Fury was having a real field date with those guys. The council was concerned that there are too many vigilantes in the world, some of whom sell their services. Steve didn't really have an opinion on such matters, if they weren't causing harm then they were alright in his book.
Kevin and Natasha were observing the interrogation silently from either side of the Captain. The Black Widow was on his left, Kevin on his right.
Nakatsu and William left the culprit to simmer for a while and stepped into the opposing room, at their arrival Steve looked to them.
"So what do you think?" William questioned out loud, looking to the rest. "Does his story check out?"
"Mind control? Come on." Nakatsu scoffed. "Didn't we go through this with the Fantastic's?"
He directed the inquire about the Fantastic Five to Kevin, considering that particular case was what promoted him into the field. Despite the man's eccentric ways, Steve knew Kevin was smarter than he let on. The man had a impressive ability in absorbing information, sort of a photogenic memory. The ability was made quite useful by Fury. Kevin was trained as an analyst and lethal agent.
"Yeah and there is no clay residue on the man, so either he believes his own lie or he is telling the truth." William pointed out factually and then looked to Kevin.
"There is more ways to mind control than just clay from some magical mountain. Should we contact the professor?" Kevin asked, directing his question to the Captain, awaiting his orders.
Steve pondered the inquiry. Mind control was pretty far fetched , even if they were dealing with supers. But something didn't add up about the whole incident. Humbug was believable in his claims about his innocence, Steve didn't want to mark the man down for the crimes just yet.
"First lets run the tests and make sure his claim checks out, then let's consider consulting the Professor." He concluded. The agents nodded in agreement and exited to follow the Captain's commands.
Even though Steve hoped the man's statements did carry evidence, he also found himself praying that there wasn't more than what meets the eye with the case. After all, if there was evidence to support Humbug's claims, that would mean Steve would have to stay back in Washington and not be able to see Olivia.
Steve decided to check in on his love. He hadn't seen her since her birthday celebration last week. His body was filled were delightful tingles as his belly warmed with want just at the thought of the day. As pleasant as the party was, with all his friends and hers, the night afterwards was much more enjoyable. Especially when Steve showed her, his present for her, she couldn't get enough of him after that.
Steve didn't remember being so physically drained from his intense training sessions. He didn't know such a simple thing could make her so insatiable. He truly understood how flexible Olivia Thorne is, that night.
The mobile rang for a few seconds until there was the inevitable click. Steve's smile was instantaneous.
"Hey Olli."
"Hey babe, how is work?" She responded in a familiar cool tone.
"Weird." He stated frankly, leaning back into the wall behind him.
"You?" He asked curiously.
"Ditto, my man." She exclaimed. "I am helping Jessica out with her website related stuff."
"How is that weird?" He questioned with a incredulous lift of his left brow.
"Some things she said doesn't check out-it's probably some miscommunication, no doubt fixable. I think she gave me the wrong address or something-anyway it's not important, the most important thing is...When you heading back here?"
Steve did not miss the sultry intent in her words. He grinned bashfully, a breathless laugh escaped his lips.
"Tomorrow is the plan, wish I could make it tonight but we got this new case and I have a feeling it might be a big one." He murmured reluctantly, his gaze wandering about the long hallway. He wished he had better news, like he was on the way and just five minutes from her door, his stomach sank wistfully.
"Oh, if work is demanding your time I totally understand, we can always meet up next week." She insisted kindly, keeping her disappointment at bay.
"No, I want to see you." He protested passionately. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, my love." Olli cooed in a adoring tone that both eased him and made him yearn.
"But work hard yes? I will make sure you are rewarded." She promised, her word thick with sensuous intent. Steve smiled, his ears reddening in both abashment and desire.
"Ditto." He breathed sweetly."Bye Olli."
"Bye Steve."
He was reluctant to hang up but he had warned Olivia that his calls from the Triskellion Headquarters had to be minimum. She was understanding as usual, after all the moment he got home he made sure to call her.
Steve stared down at his phone for a long pensive moment while sighing woefully. He missed her, everything about her, her smile, her laugh, her witty words, the way being around her just felt like home. Returning to DC after a magical week and half of spending time with her in December, felt like waking up from a wonderful dream.
A sudden flash and sharp clicking sound brought Steve out of his thoughts. His attention snapped to the side to find a grinning Kevin. The Agent had the camera lens of his phone aimed at the captain.
"Aw you guys are so cute." He cooed then laughed hysterically. Steve gaped in shock of having been taken advantage of in a moment of distraction. He imagined he must look quite smitten in the photo Kevin had taken.
"Give me that camera." He ordered stomping towards the man.
"Nah!" Kevin jumped back, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. "I am going to send this to Olli, she is going to love it."
Steve gasped in outraged. The agent laughed manically and raced down the long corridor. Steve paled.
"Get back here Odell!" He boomed, chasing after the man.
Kevin felt rather mischievous that day. Maybe it was the thrill of a interesting case having fallen on to their laps, but waiting for results from analysis was always boring. He wanted to pass the time by having a little fun, even if it was at the Captain's expense. After all, the man was an easy target.
He spotted Natasha Romanoff exiting from the main elevator. He grinned and ran towards her, waving his phone exuberantly.
"Natasha, look what I got." He cried grinning, his legs coming to a slow halt in front of her. The spy was busy reading a document from the touch screen, tablet in her hand.
"Look what I got." She abruptly cut in before Kevin could present her his picture. Kevin deadpanned when she thrust the object in to his hand without waiting for a protest.
"Wow, you shouldn't have?" He mumbled dryly, but then the sight of all the open(confidential) windows on the screen drew his attention.
"What is it?" He inquired, eyebrows furrowing and his tone taking the turn for the serious. Steve had arrived just as Kevin began to skim through the files Natasha had presented to them. Seeing the somber looks on his fellow agent's faces, the captain was swept up by the situation.
"It's the forensics file on our Bug man and they found something interesting. Look at this." Natasha reached out and tapped on a separate window. The screen enlarged, revealing a video of the forensic experts analyzing a device of some sort. It was in the shape of a very small, insect, resembling a spider. The surface of the insect was dark like sooth and it's tiny legs seemed a little charred at the ends.
"What is it?" Steve asked uncertainly.
"I thought it was a tattoo on the back of his neck, turns out to be some kinda nanobot." Natasha informed.
"Does it work?" Kevin inquired his interest had peaked.
"No." She shook her head."But the techie's managed to trace its origins to a Horizon Labs at South Street Seaport, Manhattan."
Steve sighed internally, relieved by the lead. He directed a approving nod to Natasha who smirked, quite smug under the Captain's appreciation.
"Odell take Quinn with you and find whatever you can on this motorized...bug. Maybe there is some truth to Mr. Mitty's claims." Rogers ordered Kevin. The man grinned and nodded.
"Right, Laterz." He announced, turned and headed off with the tablet at hand. Natasha and Steve watched the man depart.
"You know you could have just caught a ride back to your cutie-pie?" The leading spy suggested, smiling sneakily up at the Captain.
"Tempting, but I'll ruin my integrity if I break protocol." Steve responded even though the thought had crossed his mind, several times and continued to haunt him.
"Boy scout." Natasha snorted, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning into her hip."I am sure to you, Olli is worth breaking the rules for."
Steve didn't have a witty retort to that, after all, the woman had a point.
Steve found Quinn a few hours later, making himself a cup of coffee in the break room. The Captain was surprised by the sight of the field agent. Quinn was a tall, lankier man with a head of neatly trimmed, blonde hair on a very square face. Despite the man's weak built, he was well equipped in martial arts and a top marksman among the previous year's recruits.
He was dressed in his black suit while stirring coffee in a plain white mug. Steve approached him and the man immediately tensed at the sight of the superior officer.
"Agent Quinn, where is Odell?" Steve demanded.
"Interrogation room five, Captain. We brought in a suspect for the Bug Man case."
"That was fast, was it someone at the lab?"
"No actually, turns out there was a breaking in at that lab around a two years ago." Quin announced.
"Why are we only hearing about it now?" Steve inquired, his fair brows furrowing.
"Because it was a cyber crime and nothing was stolen, or so they thought." Quinn informed. "Their firewalls were down for a considerable amount of time but there was no trace to what the assailant wanted, but we did track down the IP address to some stoner in Manhattan."
"They are interrogating him now?" Steve asked.
"Yeah. We are just letting him sit their till he comes down from his high, so to speak." Quinn answered. Steve nodded and made his way out of the pantry in search of Odell and their so called suspect.
"Skeeter?"
Steve was beyond shocked to find Olivia's animations specialist in the interrogation room. He spotted the man sitting on the metal chair in front of the steel table, from the other side of the one way mirror. Skeeter was dressed in his usual shabby, grey band shirt, long, olive cargo pants and a light blue beanie. The scrawny man shifted in his chair, scratched at his goatee and then pulled the beanie off his head to play with it between his hands, quite bored by the wait. His wrists were cuffed and forced to be connected to a chain to the table.
"How do you know Skeeter?" Kevin demanded grabbing the captain's wide eyed attention. Odell's eyes were wide in inquiry, surprised when Steve recognized the man. Having heard Kevin's familiar nickname for the animations guy, Steve deduced the agent knew the suspect too.
"How do you know the guy?"The captain questioned in turn.
"He is Val's-this girl I knew." Kevin frowned from either a sudden unwanted memory or from the slip of his tongue. "Her cousin. We grew up in Boston together. How do you know him Cap?"
"Olivia's animations specialist." Steve announced reluctantly, after casting a glance in the room to only discover that it's just Kevin and Natasha accompanying him in the observation room. Kevin blinked in wonder, his mind echoing the same thought as the Captain. It was a strangely small world.
"This is the guy that had hacked into Horizon?" Steve asked, breezing over the mysterious coincidence.
"Apparently." Odell murmured even though he didn't seem to believe it. "He has the ability to do something like that but Skeeter wouldn't do anything that would risk him being caught by the Feds. Which is why none of this is making any sense."
"He doesn't look the type." Steve mused, frowning.
"You two have a very naive look on life, it's cute." Natasha teased, but then her taunting smirk abruptly fell when it landed on the suspect.
"The guy has a record." She announced, grimly.
"No he doesn't." Kevin objected, she slanted him a flat look.
"He isn't the only one clever with a computer Kev." She said handing the man a manila folder. Kevin unwillingly opened the file and his dark eyes skimmed over the man's record.
"Granted he hasn't been top priority in the cyber crime category but he has done some shifty work, part some interesting conspiracy theory groups." Natasha summarized for the Captain. Steve was reeling from the information, finding it a hard time to process the information.
Skeeter was a very odd yet harmless guy. He had met him several times while staying with Olivia. He was a kid, joked around with the Captain's girlfriend, played with Anakit and watched Olivia's TV and left popcorn kernels on the couch. Nothing about the man screamed villainous, except for his sloppy ways.
"Skeeter has always had a fascination with the weird but he wouldn't do this. He wouldn't steal scientific tech and use it in some ploy to control people." Kevin argued firmly, gripping the closed file tightly in his hand. Kevin was the most serious Steve had seen him, the man was genuinely rattled by seeing Skeeter on the other side of the window.
"We know, which is why we think he might not be the mastermind." Natasha said, her tone soft and considerate. Steve trusted Natasha's judgment and decided to make a decision then and there.
"You should be the one asking questions." Steve abruptly ordered, startling the man.
"Me?" Odell echoed, distressed. "I thought I am too close to this?"
"Which is why you are perfect for the job." Steve said. "He will be comfortable opening up to you."
Odell found logic in that explanation. His tense, defensive demeanor relaxed and he nodded in acceptance of the request.
Steve and Natasha observed the entire conversation from the other side of the mirror. Odell entered the room a few moments after they made the decision. The large man's actions were rather mousy when he made his appearance. Skeeter immediately sat up and grinned in his direction.
"Kev, hey man how you been?" He questioned with a friendly familiarity.
"I've been good Skeeter. You?" Kevin asked, gripping the animators file at hand. Skeeter hardly noticed the presence of the folder and eased back into his chair.
"There have been better days, ones where I wasn't hand cuffed and brought into a room by the cast of the Expendables. But life's gotta be interesting right?" He grinned with a shrug. Kevin managed to crack a grin at the man's wit and nodded.
"Yeah, sorry about that man, here let me take these off for you." He offered kindly and set the file on his side of the desk before approaching Skeeter.
"Thanks dude." The lankier man murmured when Kevin released him from the cuffs. Skeeter rubbed at the curves of his slim wrist while observing Odell. The agent made his way to his chair and sat down heavily.
"Man you really bulked up. How much you benching?" Skeeter demanded in vague interest.
Steve, Kevin and Natasha both echoed the same look of surprise.
"You are really relaxed Skeeter." Odell noted in concern.
"I haven't done anything wrong makes me think that maybe you guys are looking to me for my expertise on the whole CIA cover ups, well I got a whole file-"
"This isn't about that Skeeter." Kevin interrupted with a little exasperated sigh, as if he had been the sole listener to Skeeter's many conspiracy theories.
"Do you know Horizon Labs?" Odell asked, observing the man's reactions very carefully.
Skeeter remained dubious. "No, but I am guessing its a lab."
"They were hacked into on March eight, two thousand and twelve. Wondering if you had anything to do with that." Kevin read from the record.
"Why would I have anything to do with that?" Skeeter demanded although his expression began to grow concerned from the odd question.
"The IP address led us to you Skeet." Kevin informed gently, sliding sheets of clipped paper over to Skeeter. It was pages of information on how they had managed to track him down by analyzing Horizon's systems. Skeeter scrambled to pick up the pages and flicked through them urgently, his wide, blue eyes skimming over the information rapidly.
"I didn't do it." He stated factually, looking Kevin dead in the eye.
"Skeet, we can solve all of this if you just tell us who asked you to do it." Odell advised, his face soft in sympathy.
"I didn't do it, I swear man."Skeeter insisted, on the edge of panic. "On March I-"
The man abruptly fell quiet. His sharp features frozen in utter astonishment, his pupils shivering from the silent rush of thoughts in his head. Kevin stared expectantly but the man continued to stare out at the wall behind the agent, lost in his thoughts.
"What?" Odell demanded, snapping the animator out of his minds.
"Skeeter what is it?" He asked, leaning forward.
Skeeter continued his silence, even though the dread remained in his misted eyes, his body slumped in defeat.
"Sorry man but." He murmured genuinely apologetic. "I am going to need my lawyer now."
Kevin's eyes widened in disbelief, not expecting the sudden shut down from his friend.
"Skeeter come on-"
"I am done talking, dude." The suspect snapped in a venomous tone that Steve was not expecting.
Kevin begrudgingly entered the observation room frustrated that he hadn't managed to get thorough to Skeeter and drew him inside a shell. Steve and Natasha looked to the man at his arrival.
"There is something going on here, Skeeter's reaction was justification enough." Steve broke the silence by voicing his thoughts.
"What is he holding back?" Kevin responded, shaken by the situation.
"I don't think it's a question of what you guys." Natasha chimed in, grabbing the male gazes.
"What do you mean?" Odell asked.
"Looking at his reactions, he was sure that he had nothing to do with what happened and he only stopped talking when he saw the coding. I think he knows who hacked into the systems and he is protecting them."
She made sense, the idea of protecting someone was admirable and Steve found himself thinking that it would be something Skeeter would do. Despite the man's strange ways that Steve didn't understand, he knew a good heart when he saw one.
The door suddenly opened and Quinn strolled in.
"Hey, you guys get through to our guy yet?" He asked.
"We are not sure if it even was him, it's all speculation." Steve answered.
"Well we might find out so more. Jackson brought in this lady who works closely with the guy. She might be able to provide some insight." Quinn explained, drawing attention to the file he waved in his hand.
Steve was struck with a sudden uneasy feeling that compelled him to ask
"Who?"
Quinn opened the file and read the name. "A Miss Olivia Throne."
Natasha and Kevin simultaneously stiffened and looked to Steve. The captain was wide eyed and dumbstruck.
Quinn was still reading the file, dubious to how the air around them had suddenly thickened in stress.
"Anyone else find it weird she has no middle name?" The agent mused out loud only to immediately jump out of the way when Steve stomped in his direction. Natasha and Kevin hastily followed after the Captain, leaving Quinn confused by the impetuosity.
It wasn't often that Olivia Thorne paced restlessly, but when she did, she had good reasons. She was brought in by SHIELD to ask some questions about an ongoing investigation. She wasn't provided any other details expect a letter, demanding her cooperation. She wondered if Steve knew she was in the building, she doubted he knew because if he had, she would have been warned before hand, or would his superiors be against it?
Does SHIELD know about her relationship with the Captain? Did it have to do something with that? Olivia began to panic behind a mask of indifference.
The door of the interrogation room opened and a man walked in. He was bald, tan skin and wore glasses over his dark beady eyes. He was medium build and dressed in a well iron suit, he carried in a file that Olivia knew had something to do with her.
"Good evening Miss Thorne, I am Agent Sitwell." He introduced and then gestured to her untouched chair, expecting her to take a seat. She reluctantly did, simultaneously to him.
"Am I under arrest?" She demanded.
"No Ma'am." He smiled to assure her but she was the least bit settled.
"Then what is your reason for holding me here? I have done nothing wrong." Olivia pointed out factually.
"Are you certain of that Miss Throne?"
Her eyes narrowed, he sounded like he was teasing her. She was in no mood for jokes, being in a unfamiliar environment. He cleared his throat, a little surprised by her seriousness and directed his attention to the open file on his desk.
"How well do you know Mr. Scott Kyle Chester?" He asked, chancing a glance in her direction.
Olivia stared, perplexed. She was not expecting that line of inquiry.
"What does Skeeter have to do with this?" She demanded.
"You work with him yes?"
"I hire him for his talent at animations, freelance basis though." Olivia answered tensely.
"Mhm but you could say that he is technically your employee considering most of the projects he had worked for were from your connection yes?" Sitwell mused, lacing his fingers over the table and leaning back casually. Olivia knew the crafty intention in the man's words. He was expecting her to take responsibility for Skeeter in some way. As much as she knew and trusted the guy, she knew Skeeter had some illegal operations and didn't want any involvement in his crime.
She knew she had to tread carefully.
"In order for him to be under my employee it needs to be settled in contract, Mr. Sitwell and that hasn't been done." She responded calmly.
"So you two operate under a trust basis?"
"Yes." She said. "Can you please tell me what exactly he has done? Is he in trouble?"
"You dont seem that surprised." Sitwell observed, pushing his frames over the bridge of his nose. "Are you aware of his illegal activities apart from the occasional freelancing for you?"
"What illegal activities?" Olivia questioned, playing aloof. She knew admitting to the knowledge could make her an accomplice, which she had no part in.
"Frequently hacking into places he shouldn't, although none of them are a serious SHIELD matter, this one however is." Sitwell stopped flipping through the pages at one particular sheet of evidence.
"March eight, two thousand and twelve at approximately one am." He began to read out, Olivia listened intently. "The Horizon Lab firewalls and security were disabled for around ten minutes. Even though the hacker hadn't logged into anything else other than the main operating computer, a very important piece of tech and it's files were stolen. All we managed to narrow down to is Mr. Chester's IP address."
Sitwell hadn't noticed how uncharacteristically troubled Olivia Thorne was in that moment.
"I understand that he wasn't in your employment at the time but all the evidence points to you being a close friend of his. We do not believe that he was the one who committed this but we believe he might be protecting someone." Sitwell looked to the subject in question.
"Do you have any idea who that could be Miss. Thorne?" He asked, aware of how harshly she was breathing.
"Y-yes." She stuttered out, the guarded tone no longer present.
"Me." She announced hesitantly, looking to him with glistening honey brown eyes.
"I did this."
"Fury what the hell is this?" Steve demanded, barging into the director's office. Fury stood up from his leather chair in acknowledgement to the irate Captain. The director was calm under the glare of Steve's enraged expressions.
"Rogers, calm down." He insisted.
"Calm down?" Steve hissed his fingers clenched into fists at his sides.
"You arrested my girlfriend for hacking?"
"She confessed." Fury stated factually.
"What?" Steve demanded, staggered.
"She confessed." The director repeated grimly and then aimed Steve's attention to the screen behind him. The captain looked to find Olivia's confession tape on a loop, admitting to Sitwell that she was the one that had committed the crime. His shivering gaze was focused on her face, weary and heavy with remorse and misery. Sitwell kept trying to pressure more questions out of her but Olivia refused to budge and demanded her lawyer, over and over again.
"This is crazy, she did not do this." The captain cried out, revolving back to face the Director.
"She hasn't admit to anything beyond piggy backing off several IP addresses including Mr. Chester's address in order to break into the firewall."
"That doesn't explain anything, nor does it help us find our thief." Steve pointed out factually.
"She could be covering for him."
He refused to believe that his Olivia could be capable of such a crime. He couldn't accept the idea of her abusing her power for such a immoral task. Skeeter on the other hand had a record of cyber crimes. Steve was leaning more towards Skeeter having committed the act, even though his instincts were telling him otherwise.
"Could be, but she has refused to speak since." Fury informed.
"Let me talk to her." Steve suggested, urgently.
"No, you are too close to this Cap. Sit this one out." Director insisted firmly, earning a scowl from the Captain.
"Sitwell will keep trying."
Somehow Steve doubted the man would make any progress.
Natasha sat by the lunch table and watched as Steve paced before her, back and forth. His hands would alternate from being clenched at his sides to rubbing his face in languid strokes. His entire body was rigid with tension and Natasha felt sorry for the guy, but he was handling Fury's refusal of seeing his girlfriend remarkably well.
"She still hasn't spoken?" She questioned.
"Nothing." He grumbled stopping in his march and turning to the spy.
"Why would she admit to this? Olivia isn't a hacker she is just a web designer."
"She has the tools to." Natasha noted, casually.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He demanded, at the edge of snapping at her.
"She can if she wants to and from the look of things she isn't lying." Natasha stated calmly. His eyes widened in scandalized disbelief, hurt and confounded by the woman's accusation.
"You honestly can't believe Olivia is capable of this?"
"People are capable of a lot of things Rogers, especially the ones you think you know." She warned, her gaze was all too stern for the Captain's liking.
Steve knew of Natasha's trust issues. She liked to remind him in her usual teasing tone that he was far too naive. He had brushed it aside before, knowing the woman had gone through far too many obstacles in her time. But he didn't appreciate her negativity in that moment, accepting her words would mean to accept Olivia's fate. He knew if he did assume that she was capable of such a deed, he would stop trying to prove her innocence.
"We are not getting anywhere with this." He ordered fixating his stare on to Natasha. The severity in his expression softened to a pleading look.
"She will talk to me, if I can only get some time." He murmured woefully.
Natasha held his gaze silently and for those intense few seconds, he feared she will refuse to help. Romanoff chanced a glance at the door behind him and then looked to him before nodding confidently.
"Ten minutes." She insisted.
Steve sighed in relief.
Steve took a deep breath before entering the room. The guards had long gone, Natasha had taken their place and stood on guard so the Captain had a moment with his girlfriend.
Olivia was pacing. He knew she never paced unless she was genuinely worried. He shut the door behind him and that drew her immediate attention. She looked to him and her whole body stiffened in surprise.
"Steve." His name escaped her lips in a dreadful sigh. It was the first time the sight of him had brought on such a guarded look from her.
"Why did you take the fall for Skeeter?" He jumped straight into the question, time was of the essence.
"I didn't take the fall for him." She stated factually.
"Did you really do this?" Steve asked, approaching her.
Her reaction was squeamish, she placed a distance between them by hiding half her body behind the chair. Steve hesitated to approach at her distrustful actions.
"I-I told that guy, I am not speaking without a lawyer-"
"Olli, please." He pleaded. She flinched remorsefully.
"I'm sorry." Olivia murmured, averting her gaze in repentance.
Steve gaped, startled by the lack of confiding words.
"Who is doing this to you?" He demanded.
"Steve-"
"Tell me. Olli I can help." He cut in.
"It's not like-"
"This is serious Olivia, you could end up in jail for this." He exclaimed, growing exasperated from her lack of a proper answer.
"You think I don't know that!" She snapped glaring up at him. Steve was startled by this, never in all the time they spent together did Olivia direct a look of anger at him. But he saw more than just annoyance, she was scared. it was clear enough in her glistening amber eyes. She was holding back her fear.
"Look, this happened more than a year ago I didn't think it was going to even be this much of an offence." She said, her voice soft and full of sorrow. "I am not going to let Skeeter go down for my mistakes."
"So that's it then?" He demanded, earning her woeful glance. "You are just going to throw everything away?"
"You want me to let Skeeter take the fall so I can get away free as a bird, is that what you are saying?" She asked stiffly.
His firm demeanor grew weary, his sky blue eyes were soft in hurt and confusion. Olivia couldn't look at them without feeling her own heart clench painfully.
"You know what I mean." He whispered, his words trembling in misery.
She yearned to ease the wounded look in his woeful gaze, she struggled to fight the urge to. But she knew if she did, if she told him everything, then he would be an accomplice and the last thing she wanted to was drag him down with her.
Steve saw the flicker of doubt in her eyes. She wanted to tell him, he knew from the way she worried her lower lip and then parted her lips a few times, but something held her back. He didn't know what it was, but it worked. In the next moment her posture stiffened and then straightened her shoulders before looking to him crossly.
"I am done talking." She concluded and then turned away.
Steve was left staring at her, flabbergasted.
Natasha was grabbed out of her thoughts when Steve stormed out of the interrogation room, his brows were furrowed in exasperation that echoed in his heavy strides. She followed him with her usual cool air, though she had to increase her pace to keep up with him.
"I am guessing that conversation did not go well." She noted factually.
"None of this makes any sense. She wouldn't do this." Steve grumbled. "There has to be a reason."
Natasha was amazed by Steve's continued faith, maybe he wasn't deluded, maybe he was right. They arrived at the pantry again and he headed straight for the window as if trying to find some solace in the view of Washington.
"This was two years ago, did she go through a troubling time?" Romanoff asked, hoping to pull him out of his chaotic thoughts.
Steve didn't have an answer, but he raked his mind trying to think of one, though his thoughts were already preoccupied.
"I know the answer to that." Kevin announced appearing behind the Russian spy. Steve immediately stepped away from the glass and approached the man.
"Look." He insisted and handed the Captain his tablet. Steve accepted the device and looked down at the open window on the screen. It was a list of numbers of some kind, organized neatly in a wide table, it resembled a bill.
"What am I looking at?" He demanded frantically looking to Odell for answers.
"Olivia's bank records from that year. It definitely says she got a big payout from the job, but a third of it got spent the moment the cash came in."
Steve frowned at Kevin's evidence, it was no what he wanted to hear.
"On what?" Natasha pressed on.
"The funds were transferred to North Carolina Children's Hospital." Kevin stated.
"Norah." Steve whispered, his eyes widened in a sudden realization.
"Who's Norah?" Natasha inquired, brows furrowing in question.
Steve was about to answer when a commotion outside the pantry door grabbed his attention. Kevin and Natasha simultaneously followed the direction of Steve's gaze. They saw the frantic of rush of other field agents stomping down the corridor. Intrigued, they headed out to find out what was happening.
"The suspect is missing!" Some one exclaimed in a hushed whisper.
"Who? Who's missing?"
"Miss Thorne, she was in the room and now she is gone."
"how on earth did she get away from a trained agent in one of the most secure buildings in the world?" Someone else demanded harshly even though his voice was laced in panic. No one had an answer to such a scandalous question.
"Notify the others, she can't have gotten far." The head agent ordered.
Steve, Natasha and Kevin were silent as flies on a wall. The Captain was reeling in shock, he had just absorbed the idea of Olivia hacking into a science facility, but to attempt escape during her confinement? That was too bizarre to believe.
"Let's review the surveillance footage." Kevin suggested. They nodded and followed him to the security room.
They huddled around the tv screen with a short, cherubic faced tech guy scrolling through the time line.
"Nothing." The man announced.
"Was it wiped?"Steve demanded from the meek man.
"Wait a minute, who is that?" Kevin demanded pointing to a figure on the screen. It was a average built woman (judging from the way her long sleeved, grey, suit jacket, hugged her form) Her hair was tied back into a neat bun atop her head. The stranger's back was facing the camera all they could observe was that the woman had blonde hair with ginger highlights.
"From the brief case and ten dollar suit jacket, I am going to assume it's her lawyer." Natasha mused.
"Are we sure that's her?"Kevin asked.
Steve didn't want to take any chances, especially since the "lawyer"could have been the last person to see Olivia or the person who took her. He knew one person who could shine light on to the question.
After printing out a image of the lawyer from a view of her back, they hurried into Skeeter's interrogation room.
"Skeeter." Steve called, entering the room with purposeful strides. The man was startled into attention by the Captain's arrival.
"Whoa Steve?" He gaped."Why you cosplaying as Captain America?"
"Seriously dude?" Kevin demanded, his expression twisted in disbelief. Steve ignored the ridiculousness of the man's question and focused a stern glare on the man.
"Have you met Olli's lawyer?"He asked. Skeeter nodded frantically.
"Yeah, Mr. Featherstone."
"Well this is not a Featherstone or a Mister." Natasha stated factually.
Steve was paling at the realization they had no idea where Olivia was, who took her or for what reasons. His heart began to race in panic, he tried to remain calm but the strings of his sanity were beginning to fray.
"What the hell is going on?"
Olivia didn't know where she was. She didn't know who took her or what the hell was going on. The one thing she did know was that she was terrified.
The most obvious reason for her kidnapping was haunting her. Her employer considered her a liability and now wished to end her life to cover her tracks. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being led to her doom. The only regret she had was cruelly pushing away her loving boyfriend that only tried to help. At least he was safe, she knew she could consider that as a victory.
She tried her best to be brave, even when she was escorted down a long hallway with a bag over her head. The silence around her was deafening, until she heard the clanging, wrenching, screech of a metal door, opening.
She was forced to stop and she felt the bindings around her wrists that were forcing her hands behind her, being untied. She wasn't even given a chance to soothe her wrists, in the next moment the sack was pulled off her head and she was shoved forward.
Olivia stumbled forward and struggled to find her footing from the hard push. She would have fallen over if a pair of hands hadn't reached out and steadied her. The foreign sensation startled her at first and her immediate instinct was to push herself out of the strangers arms, only to realize it wasn't a stranger at all.
"Aaron?" She questioned, flabbergasted and staring up at him.
Her ex-boyfriend and brother of her best friend, gazed down at her. The usual cocksure glint in his eyes were replaced with remorse and his normally grinning face seemed weary.
"What are you doing here?" She demanded, reeling at the possibility that maybe he was responsible for all of this, but the idea sounded insane. She knew Aaron, he was a lot of things but a black mailer wasn't one of them.
His grip on her shoulders tightened and he held her wide eyed gaze firmly.
"I am sorry Olli, but this woman is crazy." He murmured.
"Who?" She asked. "Who is doing this Aaron?"
"Hi Olli." A sweetly, familiar voice called, distracting her from her Aaron.
Olivia spun around to find Jessica standing at the threshold of the door. She was out of her usual pretty gowns. Instead she was wearing a portrait neck blouse with thin sleeves. It was a emerald green and she had paired it with long, black, skinny jeans. At her sides were two very large, burly gentlemen. They had haggard faces that screamed ex-military, that and they fact that they were wearing all black while supporting rifles in their arms.
"Jessica?" Olivia was dumbstruck by the sight of the woman. Her first thought was that the innocent woman was kidnapped along with her boyfriend, but then the idea left her mind completely when Aaron's grip on her tightened.
Olivia was surprised when he pulled her back closer to his body as if to protect her. His face was scrunched up in a furious expression of pure hostility. It finally dawned on to her from the dazzling smile that Jessica directed at her, full of wicked intent.
"It's you?" Despite the facts, Olivia still couldn't believe it.
"Yes unfortunately." Jessica mused nonchalantly, strolling into the room with her hands clasped behind her back.
"I really am sorry about all this, you truly are a really nice person. I would much rather get to know you than your dull ex over there."
Her words were sultry and sensual when accompanied with a British accent. It didn't sound like the Jessica she knew at all. Her deception made Olivia sick to her stomach. Nauseous and extremely angry.
"Why?" She demanded. "Why would you do this? I was no threat to you I did what you asked, why keep track of me and manipulate my friends?"
"It's nothing personal, honest." Jessica insisted with a sickly sweet smile on her red painted lips. "But when my love asks me to do something I have to do it, it bonds us."
Love? Olivia understood that this woman was clearly a pawn of a bigger schemer.
"So you are not the one I did the job for?" She asked uncertainly.
"No that would be my lover. I was just asked to keep an eye on you, not during your sad time mourning over your Norah but after that, when the prodigal son came in to your life."
"Steve?" Olivia bristled. "What does he have to do with this?"
She had to know, the idea of her actions having brought him to danger made her more nauseous than finding out that Jessica was well crafted disguise.
"Nothing much, he is just someone who could potentially stop us." She abruptly fell silent, her eyes widened in stun. Olivia stared expectantly waiting for the explanation to continue. However, Jessica looked to Olivia. Her eyes were glittering in a lustful adoration.
"I think I said too much." She noted with a fond laugh. "Wow you really know how to get a girl talking don't you Olli? I do adore that about you."
Olivia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, the woman sounded almost...flirtatious?
"Now I am at a bit of a sticky situation." She mused, tapping her chin thought "I am supposed to spare you because if I hurt you then that puts a target on me and my love. We do not want the Good Captain to be on to us, however..."
A dangerous gleam took over her iridescent eyes when they moved to Aaron.
"Your friend is a liability."
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