Chapter 7.
Natasha saw the attack coming several seconds before it happened. She only had time to tap her earpiece and say, "Stark, can you hear me?"
And then a black SUV skidded into the road, sending a smaller car careening into the sidewalk. Natasha laid on the brakes, swerving, and floored it in the other direction. Bruce flew off of the back seat and into the floorboard.
"Sorry," she said over her shoulder.
"You partying without me, Romanoff?" Tony said. Metal clinked in the background – the telltale sound of the Iron Man suit coming together.
Natasha was aiming for a side road, where she would be able to shirk her attackers long enough for backup to arrive, but a second SUV blocked the route. Cars were stopped and swerving all over the place. Civilians were rushing down the sidewalks, ducking into storefronts.
It was rapidly becoming gridlock.
"I have Banner." She came to a dead stop halfway between the two SUVs and crawled through to the back seat. "Looks like these mercs moved the party to New York. An assist would be appreciated… any time now."
"On the way. Don't let the Hulk loose on the city."
"I don't think that'll be a problem."
Natasha pulled her guns, rolled down the back window, and fired a shot, making the black-clad mercs pouring out of the SUVs hesitate. Everyone dove for cover.
"I've got civilians trapped out here. I'm boxed in."
"Almost there. And a three, two, one…"
Iron Man dropped out of the sky, landing dramatically on one of the SUVs and creating a deep dent in the metal. A door opened, but Tony kicked it shut as he hopped down.
Natasha ducked out of her car, taking advantage of the chaos, of her showboating ally. She made for the other SUV, making note of the four mercs that had come out of it, and where they were headed. Everyone was armed to the teeth, but the guns were not of much consequence to Tony. She was less bulletproof, and so were the innocent people all around them.
She got as close as she could, stopping ten feet away and pressing herself against a car. Horrified civilians looked down at her from inside. Nat put her fingers to her lips.
In the rearview mirror, she spotted her target coming around the back of the car. Natasha turned, fired once, and found him wearing sturdy armor in areas that were typically vulnerable – including his neck. But heavy armor had the downfall of being stiff and awkward.
He lifted his gun to fire.
She rushed him, kicking the muzzle of the gun away just before it shredded her, and then knocking it out of his hands.
"Got my eight guys, how are you doing with your four?" Tony said over the coms.
Natasha dealt out blows, ripping the armor from the merc's neck and chopping his throat. He went down, choking, and she hit him with a stun tag.
Tony was rising above the field, slowly spinning as he tracked a merc trying to get into Nat's car. "It looks the same as the party. They're not coming for us – they're coming for Bruce. And this fight has gone on too long. I have just the thing."
He launched a net from his belt. It landed between two cars, and a mercenary screamed as it wrapped around him and electrocuted him. He went down.
"Little repurposing of Hydra technology."
Nat heard movement to her right and charged it, running face-first into another merc.
He had his gun out, finger on the trigger. Nat ran her palm into his nose, shattering it. He struck her with his free arm, apparently unfazed, and threw her backward. Nat kicked the gun from his hand, staggering as he caught her foot midair.
She spun, kicked him in the face with the other foot, and then hit the pavement as he released her.
Nat was up in an instant, but before she could get another hit on the guy, a blast hit him in the chest and he collapsed.
"I had him," Nat objected.
"You were taking too long," Tony said, landing beside her.
She looked back at the other SUV, smirking. "That's cheating."
Tony had locked them inside of their car with some kind of foam.
"Bulletproof cars are pretty annoying when you're locked inside," Tony said. He surveyed the unconscious merc in the net, giving him a tap with his boot. "Whoever is behind this has some serious resources, to hire so many goons."
A crackling sound drew their attention to the SUVs. A stray merc had managed to pry a door open. He fired on them. Natasha ducked behind a car and Tony put his mask back up.
The foam-encased SUV screeched around and raced down the road, the doors slowly clearing as the foam melted away.
"Right up your alley," Nat said, gesturing.
"Yeah, let 'em run. Jarvis is tracking the car via keyhole satellite – and I tagged it, just in case. I wanna see where these guys are putting their feet up. A big operation has to have a base." Tony landed and they met at her car. He tapped the hood. "And Bruce is… in the trunk?"
Nat opened the back door, showing him the pile of scientist lying in the floorboard. His nose was bloodied, and the mess on his arm had crusted up.
"Not a good look for him," Tony said. "Unconscious?"
"I found him like that, in a wrecked house. Apparently he was working with a scientist, Dr. Freeman, to find a cure for himself. Freeman wasn't there. He was either kidnapped, or he was the one who did this to Bruce." She paused, "I think we can say for sure this is about us."
"Freeman, Freeman, Freeman. No bells." Tony stepped out of his suit, leaning over to touch Bruce. "He is really out of it… Get him back to the Tower. I invited a friend over to help us figure out this gas. But I should warn you first, before you get there and throw up. Steve and Thor got a little, er, altered. Might be a little dent in you and Cap's budding romance."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess the easiest way to say it is that it looks like they got their powers taken away."
"Their…?" Natasha felt the horror rising up inside. "Bruce."
Tony watched their friend through the window, brow furrowed, "Won't know until we get him back there, but it seems likely that whoever gassed the party got to him, too. I'll give Rhodey a call, see where these assholes are hiding out."
Natasha gestured around, "I'm blocked in, big time."
"Wait for the police to clear it up. Should only be a few hours."
She waited.
"Fine. Why do I have to do all the heavy lifting?" Tony yanked the car door open and dragged Bruce out, hauling him over his shoulder. "I'll drop him off with Dr. Bloom."
"Be careful with him. He seems… fragile."
Tony patted Bruce on the back. "Of course. We're pals."