Fort Payne- Roofs

2140R (UTC-5)

29JUN2012

"Look out below!" Falcon dove to the side as a shot rang out.

"So, at last they've noticed us. Poor, fools. Land over there by the door. Hawkeye and Nat have to cut out communications. If these assholes get there before they do we have a problem."

"Got it." Falcon dropped to the roof just at the door, punching down one of the Hydra Guards in the face. Tony landed in the middle of the tower, shooting a few repulsor bursts at a couple guards. I wonder how the others are doing? He was worried. This mission had to succeed. They had been planning it for the past week. The one problem was, of course, Tony's stupid arrogance. Of course we're gonna do this. He had said to himself. Stupid, idiot! He hated himself more than ever now. Looking down at Fort Payne, seeing all the men, and how large the fort was in real life, he was nervous. I didn't say goodbye to Pepper. He hadn't even told her about this plan. Such an idiot, Stark!

"Ironman!" Falcon dove at one of the soldier who had been sneaking up on Tony while he was deep in thought.

"Thanks, Falcon. Lets get down there and help our team." Falcon leads the way to the door, knocking out two more Hydra soldiers.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked Tony. "You've been kind of out of sorts this whole mission."

"Well… I've just been thinking about Pepper." Tony replied. "I didn't tell her we were doing this, and I'm a little worried, to be honest."

"Hey, Stark, it's gonna be fine." Falcon nodded. "We're getting out of this."

"You're right. There's no use worrying about it and compromising a mission. And besides. The greatest minds of this nation came up with this plan. We're good."

"Okay, you're definitely feeling fine now." Falcon rolled his eyes as he yanked open the door that lead to the next level.

Fort Payne- Hallways

2200R (UTC-5)

29JUN2012

Steve lead Dr. Banner through the halls. They remained silent most of their journey there, and Steve was pleased to avoid as many Hydra soldiers as possible. By now, of course, Hydra knew exactly what was going on. Hopefully Clint and Natasha have made it to the Communications Room safely. He wouldn't know until he spoke to Major Hill once he got to the Command Center of the fort.

"I hope the others are doing okay." Bruce said as they made another left turn. They were following the little hologram maps that came up from the wrist pieces that Tony had invented. They are rather useful, Steve thought. But he remembered the way it had been before there had been fancy technology. He wasn't used to using things like this. In reality it only confused him. So he was relying on Dr. Banner to watch the map, and give him directions- something he was much more used to.

"I'm sure they're alright. Hank and Janet are already done with their part of the job." Steve replied.

"Have you noticed, they've been acting kind of strange lately?"

"The two of them? Yes, but it seems to me it hasn't compromised the mission at all. For that I am grateful." He said a prayer to himself to emphasize that fact. The command Room was on the second floor, and it seemed like forever, but they finally made it to some stairs.

"Here we go..." Steve lead the way, protecting Banner from any frontal attacks. He hoped to god the Doctor wasn't stupid enough to not watch his back.

"The Command Room is straight down the first hallway. We won't be able to miss it." Bruce said.

"Alright." They had reached the top of the stairs. Steve turned back to Bruce. "Are you ready for this?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Let's-"

"Steve!" Major Hill's voice called out from his ear piece.

"Maria?! What's going on?"

"Don't go in there yet. We're not ready. If Hydra is fully alerted of your presence they'll summon reinforcements."

"What about Natasha and Clint?!" Bruce hissed.

"Something's wrong in the Communication Room. They haven't done the job yet." Maria replied.
"Do we need to go up there?" Steve asked.
"No. I've sent Janet and Hank to go investigate. For now, you two find a place to camp out. A small office or something. If Hydra catches you before communications are down this mission is completely compromised."

"Alright. Thanks for the warning, Major."

"It's my job, Captain." He could hear the smile in her voice. "Stay safe."

"Will do."

Fort Payne- Communication Room

2215R (UTC-5)

29JUN2012

"Natasha!" Clint gasped. This couldn't be happening! Natasha was...no! She was on their side, she was with them- he had been so sure… he had trusted her… so… much…

"Don't vaste your breath, SHIELD scum." The Admiral hissed. "Natalia is mine. Mine alone, I say!"

"Shush, darling." Natasha purred. "You'll only anger him." Anger me?! Clint bit his lip. He was confused, broken- emotions raged within him. As they spoke, the Admiral and the Assassin, anger built up as the strongest.

"They plan to take the Command Room," Natasha said, "Once we've taken the Communications room. It is quite unfortunate, don't you think, that now their little plan will never be finished?"

"You're both…" Emotions pulled at Clint, the admiral still had a gun pointed at him, he couldn't move, but if he could…. His anger was telling him to kill the man, to watch him die mercilessly. "Bastards. Hydra pets!"

"Silence, dog!" The Admiral hissed, "Or else, I shall put a bullet into your brain."

"I won't stay silent! That's what they want. They want to keep us from having a voice! They want to keep us from singing! But I won't bend to their rule! I'd rather break! Because you know what?!" He stood up, "God bless FUCKING AMERICA!" And at that moment he burst into a terrible rendition of 'Star Spangled Banner'.

"Zis is your final varning!" The Admiral screamed. Clint sang with all his heart, screaming his anger into the open. He didn't care anymore. He had lost everything in less than an hour. His team? They were all going to die. SHIELD? What would it do without them, without Fort Payne? And… he had lost Natasha…. "ZAT'S IT!" The Admiral cocked the gun.

"No!" Natasha gasped. "No! We still could use him."

"For vhat, pray tell?"

"Negotiations, with SHIELD. Ransom."

"It's a risk I'm villing to take." The Admiral aimed. Clint sang louder. Fury filled Natasha's voice as she spoke.

"I disagree with your tactics, Admiral."

"Who are you to disagree, girl?!" The Admiral screamed. "You are ze Bride of Hydra! And ze Bride must alvays obey ze husband!" There was absolute rage in Natasha's eyes as she yanked out her gun and pointed it at the Admiral's chest. Clint's singing dieed away. The Bride of Hydra fired one, two, three shots. And with those she became a Widow.

"I'm not your bride. I will never be again. Hydra will fall, and I… I shall be a Widow, gladly." The Admiral's eyes closed and Natasha's fury faded away and was replaced with bitter sadness. Tears filled her green eyes, as she sank to the floor.

"Nat…?" Clint was hesitant, but he stepped towards her, confused, happy… he was not sure what he was feeling.

"I'm sorry. I… I knew it had to be timed right or else he'd call reinforcements…." She looked down at her hands, they were shaking. "More blood spilled..."

"For a good cause." Clint replied.

"Is it ever good?"

"Freedom is always good." Clint nodded. He knelt down next to her. "God, Natasha you scared me."

"I'm sorry." She shook her head, and leaned into his embrace.

"Well. It doesn't matter now… the mission's compromised." He picked up the remote the Admiral had been holding and examined it closely. "There's nothing we can do to fix the computers."

"I think I can help with that." Hank and Janet both flew down from the air vent, growing in size as they came.

"We're glad to see you both alright!" Janet gasped. "Major Hill was saying there was something going on in here."

"Nothing we couldn't handle." Clint replied.

"Alright… so… the computer virus didn't work… Let me look at this set up." Hank dashed over to the computers, taking off his helmet, Janet followed him, watching over his shoulder. Natasha rolled her eyes, and stood.

"You scientists… always thinking more complex means better. Tony makes a virus that can turn off communications, when you can just do this." She reached around the back of the huge computer monitor and yanked out a whole bunch of cords. All the screens turn black and flash little green letters: NO COMMUNICATIONS AVAILABLE.

Natasha crossed her arms with a grin. Hank frowned, "Well… I guess, that works too…."

REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:

GabycatStark13: NO, just no. Clint, Nat, gawd, why?v

I hope this chapter helped a little bit. :)

Alethea 13: Lol oh shit. Idk if shes fr or not. Bc the comics and stuff ugh

hehe... yeah... Nat's character is so complex. But, no, in this one she's with SHIELD.

Black' Victor Cachat: Twist! Do the next chapter soon! :-)

Here ya are! :D

Thanks, all, for the reviews! Reviews keep me writing and encouraged, so I really, really appreciate them!

-mariahills-capsicle