p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bed141f9ceee6bce8ac28cc635e1c236"I pace back in forth in front of the hospital window as the doctors operate on Fury./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2101b3c2c7761b5633013ffcf1b27f20"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He looks so bad. What if he doesn't make it?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7276a3c7c5249142d10a4b3ae1f1cbca"I try to shake my negative thoughts out of my head, but they won't budge. That's all my life consists of. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Negativity/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="16c31fb7e2ac53c10becb6bdc0e3eef4"A hand is placed on my shoulder, making me jump in surprise. On instinct, I turn around and raise my hands to send the person into the wall./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd49688b163a1fbdbe4bf1880244d602"Steve's eyes widen and he carefully grabs my hands before I can do anything. "Easy there, tiger."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e3de3a1d5b4ea09c986c7e3d4b0ce866"I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. "Sorry, I didn't know who..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b17733a3724f7ecaceeabc4a356e0315""It's okay. I know the feeling," Steve interrupts./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f880f8cd2999f02aa95214c5d4842e8e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Of course he does. He was a soldier too./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="20827d4f406166d480ffa2a3ac243722"Steve places a hand on my shoulder once again, but this time I don't freak out on him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5cee23ec6b78a35a4b6f7fd0fe6f1aa1""It's going to be okay," he assures me in a soft voice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b8f680b8d38640bdc6420629608b1688"I nod silently as Natasha walks into the room. She trots over and stands beside me. "Is he going to make it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c35c6724d8c14b24876b1ee4d2aa5d99""We don't know," Steve answers truthfully./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5bb39bf91e59538c5eb120da75a3c7f8""Tell me about the shooter," Nat says as we continue to stare at Fury through the window./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="87a30eaf390e1c6654ffa55ea5b3d3aa"I gulp as I think about Bucky. I'm still contemplating whether or not I should tell Steve./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="395d1a07ed6ae88f1006500afc2649bd""He's fast and strong. He had a metal arm," Steve says before looking at me knowingly. He knows that that matches the description of the man I was helping two years ago. He knows I'm probably pretty hurt. Steve knows everything. Except the fact that that man with the metal arm is Bucky Barnes, his best friend./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0ab8719b9ba74479ce72a511cdb171b4"A woman with dark brown hair and a SHIELD uniform walks through the door as Nat demands, "Ballistics."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="86a8fb48434c8d29f206d95aa5de4733""Three slugs. No rifling and completely untraceable," the woman says./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="18a9e512540c96a5f5e38fd7e695fc26""Soviet made?" Nat asks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e8907adb2a0011d6bbc5973688dcc95e"Before I can control myself, I say, "Yeah."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d5a44414d02bfe4993f6a34529459aa3"Nat and the other woman look over at me in confusion. "How do you know that?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="15c9c46e060f3bf60c39f781b548767e""I'm Soviet made. Don't you think I'd be able to notice another Soviet made assassin?" I retort calmly as I continue to watch as doctors friskily try to save Fury./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b63c03c837eeb2c5c2ba50c6aaed4c00""I'm Agent Hill by the way. Remember me? I'm the one you kinda took as a hostage two years ago after you woke up when the Avengers were forming," the woman states./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6f4fe205ce67391ed1b8c42bb044b7ca"I look at her sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b03fd2461e967c133218bba7f69892a6"Before anyone can say anything else, Fury's state starts to deteriorate./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7755543f7e4628a2e274e357ec42c68e""He's dropping," a doctor exclaims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="821d97f8d1c2842bc6960ec9f06b34fb""Crash cart coming in," a nurse says./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a81e60f8eca5af7fb41f69f660dedbf8"Another doctor frantically throws some gauze at the nurse. "Nurse, help with the gauze, please! BP is dropping!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6a193b4d3dba9436787d2170e3e35743"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Oh no. That's not good./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c57fa798f491f376458e808488d007cc""Defibrillator!" the doctor exclaims./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5d577ff8377cae5b6216338198070832"Fury flatlines./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d2118a9a93453edc3fd1f5cbd872e5d3""No," I whisper in shock as I watch the doctors try to shock him back to life./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8b775caa4e48ac5f37d2ed2ca91bd21d""Don't do this to me, Nick," Nat says from beside me./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7c23a931cfa461c056c32d53eefecfb"They try three times to shock Fury back to life with no success./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cfd11c2688b45e4933d614b06c2c1360""Don't do this to me, Nick. Don't do this to me," Nat whispers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c2a0c161893e08217d6eb59d96de6070"After failing in shocking him back to life a few more times, the doctors give up. "What's the time?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d11fa52d66d3f4cbab920319e3110174""1:03, Doctor."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fbcf466654ef80db620c8506c3966d00""Time of death 1:03 A.M.."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a6140a056f747ea2d43a707ce9420aba"A single tear drop rolls down my face as I walk out of the room./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a47dd8a22082bc6a3c421cb302a47ff3"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Oh, how I wish you were here, Bucky./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="98110676fd04a9c9ccbf0abe47ecbb41"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1e267b759514e1f165b5f210956defbd"I stand beside Natasha as we stare at Fury's lifeless body. Steve stands a little ways behind us, watching as we look at the body./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b4ce62ad32ec2681b4cf8fce785a6a8f"Agent Hill walks into the room and over to us. "We need to take him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4e1c9c0a91dbd5496a43875c4215b264"I turn around to face Steve when Natasha doesn't budge. I nudge my head towards her, signaling for Steve to help./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0bcb334c0cd757a3377e256d4bf506ca""Natasha," Steve says, getting ready to touch her shoulder./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="748f6fdccb37ef13b1e1fe4a06a3e5bf"Nat touches Fury's head tenderly before storming out of the room. Steve rushes after her. "Natasha!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="48068d30392fc653276426c62fbf965d"I send Agent Hill a look before running after both of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="74571406525aff14599fcfe502129c7e"I catch up to them in the hallway. Nat furiously turns around to face Steve. "What was Fury doing in your apartment?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7e1735b4ca3975d97d53c4c337e48644""I don't know," Steve lies./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="50bf237cc7481d7e9d80254f946b608a"Before Natasha can say anything, Rumlow interrupts. "Captain, Aftermath, they want you both back at SHIELD."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4dc6c28d5a7739e802d7b9e3eaaf7253"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Rumlow./em I wonder if he's one of the bad guys hidden within SHIELD./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7969e0fd23de66e5cfded5663492984a"Steve turns around to talk to him. "Yeah, give me a second."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f3975fada38c06e2a3f94bedcd1cc531""They want you now," Rumlow states, getting impatient./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2d3c06ea61331ec7b8fa64cc7355b9b8"A bolt of electricity runs through my body. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Literally./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="54c29719b21ce3fa55ad8190b54f12ad"I angrily glare at the man, my eyes glowing as green as Bruce Banner as I start over to Rumlow. "Why don't you go-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="341f08cf7011c6079545f1283da2a485"Steve immediately grabs me and pulls me behind him before I murder the man before me, whispering, "Calm down."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9922179af31e877425df6bd7029277ca"He then turns back to Rumlow. "Okay." Then, he turns back to face Natasha yet again./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="11605f8dfdf1a3f38f3ce2b12d14d04d""You're a terrible liar," Natasha says to Steve and sends me the look I'm so familiar with. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Disappointment/em. She turns around and walks away from us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="aa4e4ca44359131f432c86cf362dfebc""STRIKE team, escort Captain Rogers and Aftermath back to SHIELD immediately," a SHIELD agent demands./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cbc61ff5809cd09122028621bc70fd25"Rumlow looks over to the agent, "I told them."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="25726e3267cdc35439bbda9df243f24e"I look up at Steve and follow his gaze to the vending machine in front of us. I send him a nod and with my mind, I transport the flash drive in Steve's hand through the hole the snacks come out and into the vending machine, hiding it behind some gum./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2cb708968717e8a5f05f6a56e12dbf44"Steve places a hand on my back and gently guides me towards the door./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d62de30f9869ff1b5e4abce25b3d4ed4""Let's go," I demand as we pass Rumlow./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e9def23df2fc07b79cad51288435bd3b"Rumlow nods. "Yeah. STRIKE, move it out."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555; text-align: center;" data-p-id="79b1d22901c4bcd9bb19bc065ea0e37a"()()()/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1afe2479c4b6e3a7411e2d2ab095647c"Steve and I walk side by side down the hallway together, making our way to Pierce./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="beb50b26ba654b3a1c4990b3639cae26"As we approach his office, I notice Agent 13 talking to Alexander Pierce. She bids him farewell and turns to face us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d9f7bc78da0fea88284083120ff467d0""Captain Rogers, Captain Evans," Agent 13 greets./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b8c1fe78e560ccc08f97c75caeb2afc6"Sensing that Steve isn't exactly happy with the woman, I decide to use a sassy approach. "Nice to see you've been reading your history book."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6047de23f2a8b0116d3d670d904e0cab""Neighbor," Steve replies coldly. Agent 13 looks at him, a twinge of hurt on her face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bf8e5c1798f4650186531688f61a75cb""Ah, Captain and Aftermath, or should I call you em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Captain/em as well?" Alexander Pierce greets. I narrow my eyes at the man. He seems iffy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="284ebd156494a770ec2b12a7d6a6b47a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't trust anyone./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1d7d714370523840729b08a32dea3914"Sending the man a curt nod, I state, "It's em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Captain/em to you."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b1db2a4f604ac3af5f37cdd1345c4e08""Sir, it's an honor," Steve comments as he shakes Pierce's hand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6531cf217078000ff01a195adb8075ad""The honor is all mine, Captain and Captain. My father served in the 101st. Come on in," he gestures to the open door of his office./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0e2426950c2a79f8fd503b9c96a2db3a"Steve allows me to go in first and I walk in just to plop down on a chair in front of Pierce's desk. Steve sits down in the chair next to me as Pierce sits down in his own office chair./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c20a1c8cc0b03d3bcb56a667837dd371"Pierce pulls out a photo of him and Fury and shows it to us. "This photo was taken five years after Nick and I met. When I was at State Department in Bogota. ELN rebels took the embassy, and security got me out, but the rebels took hostages. Nick was deputy chief for the SHIELD station there. And he comes to me with a plan. He wants to storm the building through the the sewers. I said, 'No, we'll negotiate.' Turned out the ELN didn't negotiate, so they put out a kill order. They stormed the basement, and what did they find? They find it empty. Nick had ignored my direct order and carried out an unauthorized military operation on foreign soil. He saved the lives of dozens of police officers, including my daughter."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5e93b36a59091080c21fdcc3f1ff03d8""Sounds like Fury to me," I mutter under my breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ca0d8580f43a6d821ff281d860c25eb0"Steve nudges me slightly, telling me to behave. "So you gave him a promotion."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e42db4014fa1bddca29e4e15ccee72df""I've never had any cause to regret it. Captain, why was Nick in your apartment last night?" Pierce asks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c769a8bf14567917203eca1424a06f7"Here we go again.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e6d7914af991361a89fddb987b2f4d6f"Steve lies, "I don't know."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d43c705dedd9ac70802be3f34e107852""You know it was bugged?" Pierce asks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bbe4322db883e9a26c9b3c13ade25799""I did, because Nick told me," Steve comments./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4b9e961bbad83f9d6adab115a854f875"Pierce looks at both of us. "Did he tell you he was the one who bugged it?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5d23085e3dad9665c4130e4fff7c547e"I clench my fists under the desk./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e6664b0e503a6a38ac491cf5e1f16fd3""I want you to see something," Pierce says as he pulls up footage of Batroc being interviewed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a41c43f435a95dcf4a22e5a7962deb21""Who hired you, Batroc?" a SHIELD Agent asks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3f9724315208c728612ce019737e4ed0"Steve looks over at Pierce. "Is that live?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2d59b69094918921dfd5f9e28ce72f25""Yeah, they picked him up last night in a not-so-safe house in Algiers," Pierce informs us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5f59f643d5789dad04da3d4f292c15a6"I whip my head around to face Pierce. "Are you saying he's a suspect? Assassination isn't Batroc's line."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d04f8f7be8495e508ac1d2c53c20c1bc"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Batroc doesn't have a metal arm either...and he's not Bucky Barnes./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="228ed877dc4dea87b830973eef471ebc"Pierce shakes his head. "No, it's more complicated than that. Batroc was hired anonymously to attack the Lemurian Star and he was contacted by e-mail and paid by wire transfer. And then the money was run through seventeen fictitious accounts, the last one going to a holding company that was registered to a Jacob Veech."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5517691b131061f694b34bb7d3cc8f2f""Are we supposed to know who that is?" Steve gestures between both of us./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e9015e693bf5fb15b53d170f7dafcf42"Pierce hands Steve and I the file to share. "Not likely. Veech died six year ago. His last address was 14-35 Elmhurst Drive. When I first met Nick his mother lived at 14-37."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="93ea7f79cc5255e70c57abad53eb109c""Are you saying Fury hired the pirates? Why?" Steve asks curiously./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b167b2621de80840bd26cb787b5bea3d""Well the prevailing theory was that the hijacking was a cover for the acquisition and sale of classified intelligence. The sale went sour and that led to Nick's death."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9594836412b312411a13af4c2bdfffa2"I glare at the man in front of us. "If you actually knew Nick Fury, you'd know that's not true."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3861277d99f5ab0f7c2168edfd5fe86e""Why do you think we're talking? See, I took a seat on the Council not because I wanted to but because Nick asked me to, because we were both realists. We knew that despite all the diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a really better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down. And that makes enemies. Those people that call you dirty because you got the guts to stick your hands in the mud and try to build something better. And the idea that those people could be happy today, makes me really, really angry," Pierce pauses before continuing, "Now, you two were the last ones to see Nick alive. I don't think that's an accident, and I don't think either of you do either. So I'm gonna ask again, why was he there?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e66481924a871fa52714112ac62ecd30"I clench my fists even tighter as I notice I'm making the water in Pierce's glass cup move./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f114e5bd22cd2f7feae28294e5b9b62f""He told us not to trust anyone," Steve retorts as he looks over at me concern./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2f9ca3b29953b15b4a5398dc60109370"Pierce looks at both of us curiously. "I wonder if that included him."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ae9f60e6d54532e85b29b73baa8e88a5"That's when I involuntarily pick the glass of water off the table and send it flying into the wall, shattering into millions of pieces. I frantically stand up, shocked by my inability to control myself. Steve looks up at me, worry in his eyes. Pierce looks at me in disbelief, but quickly shakes it off./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2b1f535de45bfd4d510f57d482d1d36b""I'm sorry. Those were his last words. Excuse us," Steve says before standing up. He grabs his shield and we start walking towards the door./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2431bcf601084ab00ee4b2f831eb5e74""Captain," Pierce says, making Steve and I stop. "Someone murdered my friend and I'm gonna find out why. Anyone gets in my way, they're gonna regret it. Anyone."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="482c1dc912a4b99eca6ee39c070e10e1"When I've finally had enough of Pierce's threats, I decide to try out my elemental manipulation. I concentrate on forming a rain cloud inside Pierce's office, right above his head. "I think you need to cool down."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fb6d7d40e2826f6fd6a0ae5245bb9c9c""Avery, what are you doing?" Steve asks in shock./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cda1ddcfa55f4b5d12a649e5e3b25327"As if to answer his question, I allow the rain to pour down on Pierce. He yells at me in anger as I laugh loudly. It even gets a few chuckles out of Steve./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0eb99e2936ff56c8839ce223ea4cf6b4""Understood," Steve says to Pierce as he laughs at the man that's now covered in water. He then grabs my hand and pulls me down the hallway towards the elevator./p