A/N: Guess whose back with another chapter? Don't forget to...
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Every small town has a diner that sits right in the center of town and where everyone stops by at least one time a day. Tony, and Bruce sat across from Natasha in that diner in the small town of Denton.
"Here you are sugar" The waitress said sitting down a stack of pancakes in front of Tony. "Now can I get y'all anything else?"
"No thanks" Tony said giving the woman a smile. "Are these as good as the window says, because if they aren't I won't leave silently" the waitress chuckled with a slight shake of her head before turning and walking off. "I'm serious Irma!"
"Tony" Bruce said his voice edging on annoyance. "How about we focus on the matter at hand." He turned to Natasha. "You want to tell us what you're doing here?"
"I already know what she's doing here" Tony said pouring way too much syrup on his pancakes. "The big bad Nicky sent you didn't he?" he shook his head. "That was fast, we got here hours ago" he lifted his eyes to Natasha. "So what's Shield hiding here?"
"Let it go Tony" Natasha said. "You're not going to find anything and you digging into this is only going to upset a lot of people"
"Does it look like I care if I upset a lot of people?" Tony asked dropping his fork. "C'mon spider ninja you have to admit how weird everything played out with Katie"
"It was bad luck" Natasha replied. "One that was cleared up, there was nothing left to do but move on"
"I guess it's hard to jump back on the Shield wagon after they send their Kevorkian to torture you" Tony said before picking up his fork and cutting his pancakes before stuffing a piece in his mouth. "Tell Shield thanks for the warning, but I'm not going anywhere until I get answers"
"I was afraid you were going to say that" Natasha said before reaching into her pocket and pulling out what looked like a pen.
"What are you going to do, write us a note?" Tony asked and Natasha simply smirked before pushing the pen's button releasing a white mist that caused both men to drop their heads on the table. Natasha leans forward lifting their eye lids making sure they were unconscious, before reaching over and lifting Bruce's wrist to make sure his heart rate was under control. She placed a hand on her com-link.
"They're out, let's move" Natasha spoke to the agents who were awaiting her call from outside. She looked around the diner noticing the eyes on her. "Everything's fine" she said with a smile.
Days after the craziness in London, Clint and Katie found themselves confined to their room. Clint wanted to leave as soon as possible, but with the majority of London destroyed by Malekith and his men, Shield was there hard and heavy for clean up.
"When do you think we could leave?" Katie asked snapping Clint from his thoughts. He turned to see her walking from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her.
"I'm still waiting on Hank's call" Clint replied walking over to her. "As soon as I get it, we can finally get the hell out of here" he brought his hands to rest on hips.
"It hasn't been all bad" Katie said with a smile. "I mean after the whole alien battle, we've been really using our time...wisely" Clint let out a snort. For the past couple of days of being locked in this room Clint and Katie had been showing each other just how much they missed each other. And that meant skipping the normal levels of the relationship process. She looked into in green eyes as his hands gave her waist a gentle squeeze. "I'm starting to know what that look in your eyes means"
"Oh yeah?" Clint asked already leaning in for a kiss. Before their lips could meet, Clint's phone rang. He let out annoyed groan before pulling out his phone. "It's Hank" he looked back up to Katie.
"Looks like it's time to blow this popsicle stand" Katie said pulling away. "Answer it, I'm going to get dressed"
"You know I like that look" Clint said lets his eyes trail over her towel covered frame. "I don't know why, but it's so you"
"One track mind Mr. Barton" Katie sang before closing herself in the bathroom. Clint shook his head before turning and bringing his phone to his war.
"Barton"
"Hey, man it's me" Hank answered. He sounded nervous.
"What's up Hank?" Clint asked. "Are we clear to leave?"
"Uh-" Hank cleared his throat. "Yeah, but I need to show you something first, something I think you're going to want to see"
"What?" Clint asked.
"Look, its not something I can discuss over the phone" Hank replied. "But what I can say is that you're going to want to see this, it uh-" the agent sighed. "It's about Banks" That peeked Clint's interest. If Hank did stumble onto something concerning Katie, he wanted to know.
"Alright" Clint said looking down to his watch. "I'll be there in twenty" he ended the call and turned to see Katie walking from the bathroom now full dressed.
"So are we leaving?" Katie asked pulling her hair back into a pony tail.
"Uh, yeah" Clint said. "But I have to go see Hank first" Katie looked at him confused for a moment. "It shouldn't take long, get everything packed up and we should be ready to go in like an hour" Clint grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Katie called before the man could leave. "You're not telling me something" she walked over to him. "What's going on?"
"Look I'm sure it's nothing, Hank just needs to show me something" Clint replied. "He didn't say much about it, just that I needed to see it" She shook her head. "What?"
"You're lying" Katie said with a pointed finger.
"I'm not" Clint said grabbing for the knob.
"Well then you're not telling me everything" Katie replied.
"Kat, pack up and be ready to go in an hour" Clint said opening the door. "We're going to be home free" he gave her a reassuring smile before turning and leaving the room. Katie was anything but reassured.
Clint walked down the streets of Greenwich a hood pulled over his head and sunglasses over his eyes. He reached the back entrance of the bakery unseen, and climbed up the stairs to Hank's floor. Clint was about to know when he looked over his shoulder, but there was nothing there. Maybe he was just being paranoid. He turned back to the door and knocked twice.
"Who is it!" Hank's voice called from the other side.
"Pizza man" Clint replied still looking over his shoulder. He heard the door open and turned to see Hank. And there look on the man's face was undeniable. Guilt. Clint heard footsteps behind him and turned to see suits.
"I'm sorry man" Hank said and Clint turned to him. "It just sort of came out" Clint shook his head before turning to the three agents who were now standing behind him.
"Ward" Clint nodded to the man standing in front of him. The man was just as he remembered him, young, tailored suit, and smug look on his face. He looked to the other two not recognizing them. "New guys"
"Good to see you again Agent Barton" Agent Grant Ward greeted with slight nod as well. "I'm going to need you to step inside please" Clint smirked slipping off his sun glasses and flipping off his hood. "Now Agent Barton"
"Do you really want to do this Ward?" Clint asked slipping the glasses in his pockets. "Because this isn't the student becomes the teacher, it's the student gets his ass kicked in various painful and maybe comical ways"
"What happened to you?" Grant asked.
"He fell in love" a familiar voice sounded from behind Clint. Clint's eyes widened as he turned to lay eyes on a man he thought dead. "Love has a way of changing a person" Agent Phil Coulson was alive.
"Sir-" Clint's words seem to get caught in his throat as he looked to the man. But he stood a little straighter, suddenly reverting back to Agent Clint Barton. "How?"
"Come inside Agent Barton" Coulson said stepping aside. Clint stood there for a moment, hesitating, but he decided to step inside anyway. Coulson stepped in the doorway and looked to the agent. "Ward, make sure clean up complete"
"Sir" Grant said taking a step toward his superior. "I can find Banks"
"No you can't" Coulson replied with a slight smirk. "Banks isn't found unless she wants to be found. We have Barton, so hopefully we'll get a lead on Banks"
"He's not going to talk" Ward replied looking over his shoulder to see Clint still staring wide eyed at Coulson. "I could-"
"I'll handle this one Agent Ward" Coulson said with a tone of finality his agent had come to recognize meant that the discussion was over. "Finish clean up and make sure we're ready to go" Grant nodded before turning. "Wait-" Coulson turned grabbing Hank by the arm and pulling him out of the apartment. "Take him with you"
"But sir-" Hank started but Coulson held up a and stopping the man before he could say anymore.
"You withheld very important information Mr. Phillips" Coulson said. "The director is going to want to talk to you" a slight look of fear crosses the surveillance agent's face. Coulson looked over to Agent Ward. "Get him a transport of HQ" Grant nodded before pulling Hank away.
"It's not his fault" Clint said as Coulson closed the door. "He was just helping me"
"Helping you do what exactly?" Coulson asked and Clint simply looked to the man with a shake of his head. "Agent Barton, where is Banks?" That was not a question Clint wanted to hear. "Look I heard what happened-"
"Stop!" Clint snapped. "You don't get to do this" he took a couple of steps toward the man. "We thought you were dead, why would you-" Clint shook his head turning away from the man. "Is this like some fad I'm unaware of, people faking their deaths"
"Where's Banks Barton?" Coulson asked again and Clint turned to him. "It's time to give this up and just move on"
"Do you know what they did to her?" Clint asked. "Or should I say what we did to her?"
"From what I was told it was just a misunderstanding" Coulson replied and Clint scoffed.
"A misunderstanding that landed her in the black where she was tortured by the specialist" Clint said. "Seems like more than a misunderstanding to me."
"Does it?" Coulson asked. "Do you really believe you've been fighting with the bad guys this whole time?" Clint didn't say anything, because he too had asked himself that same question and yet had no answer. "I can't imagine what Banks went through, but don' t let her paranoia and her suspicions corrupt you. You've seen the good things that have come out of Shield, hell you are one of those good things. You can't just forget what we've done for you" Clint turned his back on Coulson once again, his eyes going to the window. "Come back and forget all of this ever happened"
"Forget" Clint muttered. That was the last thing he thought he could do. "At this point do you even think that's possible? It wasn't a misunderstanding that landed Kat in that hole, it was calculated planning and until I figure out by who there is no going back" Clint sighed before turning back to Coulson. "I'm not telling you where she is"
"You think someone will try to kill her?" Coulson asked. "That someone in Shield wants her dead? Why exactly?"
"Because she keeps her eyes open while you blindly follow" Clint replied. "So are you taking me in?"
"Seems like the logical next step, doesn't it?" Coulson asked.
Agent Ward placed Hank in the back of an SUV . He was about to close the door and send the man off when a sudden thought crossed him.
"Phillips?" Ward and said Hank turned to him. "You had eyes on Foster, did those eyes ever lead to where Barton and Banks were staying" Hank sighed turning away from him. "You have to know that what you've done could be seen as a form of treason and even a sign that you may have been compromised"
"That's not true!" Hank argued. "I told you-"
"I know Hank" Grant replied. "Look all I'm saying is that assisting now, helping the agency could prove your innocence" Hank sat there for a moment mentally debating on the move he should make. "You're still a team player, aren't you Hank?"
"Of course" Hank replied with a shake of his head before turning away. "Before the big battle, they stopped at Meininger Hyde Park, they came out with bags and so I assumed that's where they were staying" Ward smiled giving the man's shoulder a squeeze. "What-What's going to happen to them?"
"There's been a misunderstanding and the director just wants to talk to them" Grant replied with a shrug. "That's it" And with that he slammed the car door closed and tapped the window signaling for the driver to go. Once the car had sped away he turned to the two other agents.
"Head back to University and make sure everything is all set for us to leave" Grant said.
"What are you going to do?" One of the agents asked.
"My job" Ward said before turning and walking off.
Tony's mouth felt like a giant cotton ball and there was an annoying ticking coming from somewhere in the room. He opened his eyes and sat up straight to find himself staring at someone he really didn't expect to see.
"Glad you're awake Mr. Stark" Director Fury greeted from behind his desk.
"How did I-" Tony looked around the director's office trying to remember how he even got here and then something clicked. "Spider ninja" he muttered turning back to the director. "Where's Bruce?"
"He's fine, he woke up a couple hours ago and now we're just monitoring his vitals" The Director said before sitting back in his chair. "Now do you want to tell me what you were doing in Denton Montana?"
"The Pancakes" Tony said standing to his feet. He tried to ignore the slight dizzy feeling but ended up grabbing for the arm of the chair and collapsing back in his seat. "What did she do to me?"
"It's a new compound we're working on" The Director said eying the man. "How do you feel?"
"Like that one time in college I'm not suppose to talk about" Tony said rubbing his eyes. "Glad me and Bruce could act as your guinea pigs" Tony once again stood to his feet. "But if you don't mind I'm going to find my friendly green doctor and get the hell out of here"
"Sit down Mr. Stark" The director ordered and Tony simply scoffed before turning and walking over to the door. He pulled it open on to come face to face with Natasha once again. "I wasn't asking" Tony looked over his shoulder to the director who seemed a little more on edge then usual.
"And I'm not one of your little minions" Tony replied turning back to Natasha who wore her usual expressionless face. "You do not order me to do anything"
"This isn't a game Mr. Stark" The director said standing to his feet. "You're treading in dangerous water and this is me trying to save you"
"Save me?" Tony asked turning to the man. "Ok, then tell me the truth. What is Shield's connection with Martin Chambers?"
"That is something I can not disclose with you" Fury responded. "What I can tell you is that what ever you're thinking isn't what's actually happening"
"Oh, really?" Tony asked folding his arms over his chest. "Because I'll tell you what I'm thinking" he took a step forward. "Shield's had connections to Katie and her family before she was recruited into the band, am I right" Fury simply sigh in response. "What the hell are you hiding?"
"Shield has lots of secrets Mr. Stark" Fury stated. "Many of which even I don't know and many I'm sure could destroy the very fabric of the universe if ever spoken out loud. Look I get it, billionaire, philanthropist like yourself is use to getting what he wants, I'm just telling you that this isn't one of those times"
"I'm not going to just let this go, you know that don't you?" Tony asked angrily. "Ever since I met you, since I met your agency of brainwashed freaks I knew there was something not right. The double talk and lies and the manipulations is just the tip of the iceberg, isn't it" Tony shook his head before turning back to Natasha who remained in her spot. "You may be able to pretend like you don't see the movement out of the corner of your eyes, but I can't. I'm going to find out what Shield's hiding and-"
"We will destroy you Mr. Stark" Fury declared and Tony turned his expression growing darker "You're not untouchable or invincible as you may think you are"
"Is that a threat?" Tony asked taking a step toward the director. "Because if it is, bring it. I've had just about enough of big brother Shield moving all these chess pieces around us and not saying a word." Tony took another step placing himself just a few inches from the director. This cause Natasha to move, but the director held up a hand stopping her. "You sent my friend to a room and let a crazy person hurt her and I'm am going to find out who's responsible and make them pay"
"Believe me when I say that what happened with Banks is being dealt with" Fury said. "But there is a way we do things around here and I do mean we. What is happening with Banks and Barton is a Shield matter that we're handling and do not need or desire your assistance"
"What the hell do you mean you're handling it" Tony asked. "Have you found them?"
"I'm going to give you this warning Mr. Stark and I suggest you heed every word" The director says. "End all search, investigation and even fascination into anything dealing with Martin Chambers. The past is the past and that's where it should stay"
"And if I don't?" Tony asked defiantly and a smirk came to the director's face. Fury already knew this wouldn't be an easy task. To dissuade Tony Stark from something he deemed interesting was like trying to take a bone from a dog.
"Shield has prided itself with helping in the shadows and making peoples lives just a little bit easier" The director expression switched to seriousness in the blink of an eye. "But you would be a fool not to see that Shield could also make your life just as difficult. Let it go Mr. Stark" and with that the director turned and walked back over to his seat behind his desk. Tony stood there for a moment feeling an array of emotions at the moment. The director took a seat and looked up to the man. "You can leave now" and just like that he was dismissed. Tony let out a chuckle as he shook his head and turned walking toward the door. Natasha moved aside allowing him to leave. Natasha stepped inside the office, placing herself in front of the director's desk.
"I want all Stark's internet activity being monitored" The director said.
"We already tried" Natasha replied. "Banks has made him untouchable by Shield" The director sighed. "Sir, may I ask what is Martin Chamber's connection to Shield?"
"There is none" The director said before spinning his chair to look out his window. "I want someone working to get us access to Stark's network and I want to know the moment he types the name Martin Chambers"
"But sir-"
"You're dismissed Agent Romanoff" Natasha simply nodded before turning and leaving as well.
Fury sat there looking out to the beautiful scenery of Washington DC and he wasn't even paying attention to it. As the leader of a multi-branch government agency when faced with questions you should have no doubts when answering them. Nicholas Fury, Director of Shield, didn't want to fully admit it to himself, but a small part of him was having doubts about the agency he was chosen to lead. And those doubts were not going away seeing as he too had questions that couldn't seem to be answered.
The director was snapped from his thoughts by the ringing of his phone. He turned grabbing the reciever and bringing it to his ear.
"Fury" the man greeted.
"Sir, we have Barton" Coulson spoke. "We're headed back to the helecarrier now"
"And Banks?" Fury asked.
"No idea, and Barton isn't saying anything" Coulson replied. "What should I do?"
"Nothing" The director said. "I'm going to send Romanoff your way, maybe she can get him to talk"
"I'm not sure that will work" Coulson replied. "He's devoted to her and I'm not sure if anything can get through to him"
"Remind him where he was before he joined Shield" Fury suggested. "He has one side to a story, and that side is not painting our side accurately. Let him know that this is his family"
"I'll try my best" Coulson replied skeptical of the plan.
An hour had turned to two and Katie was officially worried. Clint wasn't answering his phone and the longer she stood there pacing the small room the more she thought about what was happening. Hank calling Clint had to have been a trap set up by Shield. Katie stopped pacing. She had to find him and get him back because it's what he would do. She grabbed her backpack with her laptop, which she thought might come in handy, and slipped it on before grabbing her baseball cap and tossing the hood to her sweater over her head.
"I'm coming Bart" she muttered before swinging open the door and stopping at the sight of the man standing before her. "Grant...what-" Grant Ward was the last person she expected to see.
"You seem surprised to see me Kate" Grant said with a small smile.
"A little more than surprised and don't call me Kate" Katie replied watching the man warily. "How did you find me?"
"Does it matter?" Grant asked taking a step forward. Katie took a cautious step back never taking her eyes off the man. "I found you and now you're coming with me" he reached out to grab her arm and Katie flinched away. "C'mon Kate, do not make this dramatic and some drawn out hand to hand you know I'm going to win"
"You may win, but I bet you'll be limping out of here with a black eye" Katie replied taking another step back. "Where's Barton?"
"Where do you think he is?" Grant asked. "He's home" Katie looked to him confused. "How do you think I found you? Barton is loyal to Shield, always has and always will be"
"You're lying" Katie accused not wanting to believe Clint would just turn on her. And then she thought that maybe the idea wasn't too farfetched. That when it came to her and Shield, he was more inclined to take Shield's side over hers.
"C'mon Kate you can't possibly think you could undo years of devotion to the agency, could you?" Grant asked and Katie turned away from him. "You did, didn't you?" he titled his head. "That's sweet"
"You know what?" Katie said turning back to him and sliding off her back pack and tossing it on the floor. "I do want to turn this into some hand to hand I might not win" She unzipped her hoodie and tossed it aside. "I can't believe I actually liked you once upon a time"
"Don't say I didn't warn you" Grant replied about to pull off his jacket when he notices Katie's eyes widen as she look to something behind him. He turned to see Coulson standing there looking back to Katie.
"I thought I gave you an order Agent Ward" Phil said not even looking to the agent.
"I know sir, but I had feeling-"
"I don't care about your feelings" Phil said looking to the man. "We'll discuss this later, go to the helicarrier, we have a case" Grant nodded glancing over to Katie who hadn't broken eye contact with the ghost who just walked into her room. He turned and walked out leaving the two. "Say something" Phill assumed he knew how they all would react when they saw him. Clint was angry as he thought he would be, but he assumed Katie would take the humorous route. She was supposed to make some sort of joke about zombies or the fact that she knew he really didn't have a soul. He didn't expect her to stand there in silence just looking at him. He was afraid this was this was the alternative reaction he expected. The one he'd been dreading. "Banks-"
"Where's Clint?" Katie asked her voice portraying an emotion Coulson didn't recognize.
"Safe, fine. He's on a helicarrier that's going to be heading back to HQ to meet with the director" Coulson replied. Katie nodded before reaching down and picking up her back pack and her hoodie from the floor. "You have to come with me now" she brought her eyes to meet his again and he didn't miss the look of betrayal she gave him.
"I'm not going with you" She replied slipping on her hoodie and backpack.
"I know what happened to you and I'm sorry, I-" Coulson dropped his head thinking back to when he first learned of Katie being taken to the black and the terrible things that were done to her. "I wish like hell that didn't happen to you"
"Well it did and what you wish won't change that" Katie replied taking a step toward the door, but Coulson moved to block her.
"I know I can't change what happened, but you can't let one incident warp you into thinking that Shield is somehow to blame" Coulson replied. "It was a misunderstanding, a terrible misunderstanding, but a misunderstanding none the least"
"So you're saying I shouldn't blame Shield?" Katie asked. "Who should I blame for ending up in the black?" she felt her fists clench at her side. "Who should I blame for my father's death?" Coulson looked to her confused.
"Martin Chambers was murdered by Adam Lumen Sr. "Coulson stated. "Not Shield"
"Whatever, it doesn't matter" Katie said trying to move around him, but he wouldn't let her pass. "Get out of my way Agent Coulson" She used a tone that she never used with the man. It was one of anger and defiance.
"No" Coulson replied. "You want to be mad with me fine, but I'm not letting you leave thinking that we're the enemy here, that I'm the enemy" he shook his head. "I'm-I'm your friend"
"It's too late for that" Katie said before doing something neither one of them expected. She through a punch that Coulson dodged, before grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back before pushing her into the wall. "I saw you bleeding, I saw you dying-" she tossed her head back hitting him in the nose. The impact was enough for him to loosen his grip and the moment he did, Katie ran to the door. She should be running as fast as she could but she stops and turned to him to see his hand clutching his bleeding nose. "You were here and then you weren't, just like him" she clenched her eyes closed suddenly bombarded with memories of her father's murder. She snapped opened her eyes and just shook her head. "I hate you and I wish you stayed dead" and with that she turned and ran out of the room
Coulson dropped his hands to his side, the pain in his nose suddenly not comparing to the pain in his heart that felt like he'd just been stabbed. He stood there for a couple of moments when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He snaked it out of his pocket already knowing who it was. It was the agents he had waiting out front, who were probably calling to inform him that they snagged Katie upon her escape.
"This is Coulson" The agent answered. It was the agents outside, but they weren't informing him that they had caught Katie. They were informing him that she had got away. Coulson sighed tossing his head back to slow down the bleeding from his nose. "I'm on my way"
A/N: Hmm...interesting chapter, eh? Coulson's back! I know didn't much happen beside that, but we did get a lot of reactions in this chapter. I'm kind of interested in what Tony's going to do, aren't you? Is Tony Stark really arrogant enough to think he could take on big bad Shield and win?
Feed the author...please...pwetty pwease ;)