Chapter 7
I do not own The Avengers in any way.
After Madison calmed down, Steve left her in the gym. She grabbed some throwing knives and practiced on some dummies.
Meanwhile, down in the infirmary, her father was waking up.
Clint struggled against the straps holding his arms down.
"Clint", Natasha said, "You're going to be okay".
"You know that?" Clint asked chuckling, "Is that what you know? I've got no window. I have to flush him out".
"You got to level out. It's gonna take time", Natasha told him.
"You don't understand", Clint told her, "Have you ever had someone take your brain and play? Pull you out and stuff something else in? Do you know what it's like to be unmade?"
"You know that I do", Natasha said.
"Why am I back?" Clint asked, "How'd you get him out?"
"Cognitive recalibration. I hit you really hard in the head", Natasha explained.
"Thanks", Clint said, "Natasha…How many agents did I…?"
"Don't. Don't do that to yourself, Clint", Natasha said, "This is Loki. This is monsters and magic, and nothing we were ever trained for".
"Loki, did he get away?" Clint asked.
"Yeah", Natasha said, "I don't suppose you know where".
"I didn't need to know", Clint said, "I didn't ask. He's gonna make his play soon, though. Today".
"We got to stop him", Natasha said.
"Yeah. Who's we?" Clint asked.
"I don't know. Whoever's left", Natasha said.
"Well, if I put an arrow through Loki's eye socket, I'd sleep better, I suppose", Clint said.
'That would make two of you', Natasha thought. Natasha sat down next to him and said, "Now you sound like you".
"But you don't. You're a spy, not a soldier. Now, you want to wade into a war. Why?" Clint asked, "What did Loki do to you?"
"He didn't. I just…" Natasha said and looked away.
"Natasha", Clint said softly.
"I've been compromised. I got red in my ledger. I'd like to wipe it out. And I made a promise to someone", she said.
Clint smiled. "A certain young archer we both know?" he asked, causing Natasha to laugh, "How is she?"
"She called me mama", Natasha said.
"She what?" Clint asked.
"She had hit her head and she called me mama and told me it hurt", Natasha explained, "And I called her Baby Bird".
"You know she's always seen you as a mother figure", Clint said. Clint got up and went to the bathroom. While he was there, Steve came by and said, "Time to go".
"Go where?" Natasha asked.
"I'll tell you on the way", Steve said, "Can you fly one of those jets?"
Clint came out of the bathroom, wiping his hands on a towel and said, "I can".
"You got a suit?" Steve asked.
Clint nodded.
"Then suit up", Steve said. Steve left and pressed a button on his head piece. "Madison?" he asked.
"Yeah?" she said.
"Suit up", he said, "Meet me by the jets".
Madison ran to her room and threw on her S.H.E.I.L.D. uniform. She grabbed her bow and arrows and opened the door to find her father standing there.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked.
She shoved her father out of the way and made her way to the jets.
"You're not going", Clint said grabbing her arm.
"Just stop!" she yelled, "I'm not a baby anymore daddy!"
"You're not going!" Clint yelled.
"And why the hell not?!" Madison yelled.
"Because your mother died on a mission!" he yelled.
"What?" Madison hissed, "I should've known Loki was right. You lied to me. My whole life!"
"I did it to protect you. I never wanted you to be a field agent", Clint told her.
"Well you should've thought about that before you put a bow in my hands. You raised me to fight. I've always been the good little soldier. Daddy's blunt little instrument. Sorry to break this to you dad, but the man I love is going up against a homicidal maniac and I'll be damned if I sit on the side lines and watch him die", she finished her rant and walked off, her father following on her heels.