Wow, writer's block is gone and this story just keeps on coming and coming. Wrote two chapters last night. And this morning (after working for less than an hour), already have another half done. Jeez, guess I could update a little fast for a while. Just pray that I can keep going until the end.
Anyways, thanks for hanging with me! ^_^ Here is the next chapter!
Blip.
Blip.
Blip.
Blip.
"OH MY GOD! This is killing me!" Tony screamed suddenly. He jumped to his feet as he grabbed his head. Pacing the room, his hands began lacing his fingers into his hair in sheer agony. Natasha smirked as she reached her hand out toward Bruce. Bruce sighed and dug into his pocket. Pulling out a wad of cash he quickly and quietly counted it before placing it in the former Russian's outstretched hand with frown. Her hand then shifted. Steve groaned before he also took out a wad of cash and dropped it in her hand. Tony barely noticed.
Blip.
"Ah!" Tony cried. Bruce chuckled lightly before he could stop himself. Steve snickered behind a raised hand and Natasha's smirk grew. Tony whipped around to glare at his three companions. "Can't this thing go any faster?"
"Tony, we just turned it on," Steve mentioned as another blip was heard in the background. Tony growled at the machine. He was beginning to look like a caged animal or something. "This could take a while."
"Like days," Natasha offhandedly commented, saying it more to bother Tony then to upset anyone. Bruce and Steve knew what she was doing and didn't respond. Tony's groan of disdain was well worth the knowledge of knowing they may not be able to help their friend for a long time.
"JARVIS would have had a location by now," Tony pouted as another blip sounded. The billionaire glared at the machine in utter contempt. Bruce smirked. He almost felt like Tony was putting on a drama show for them. "I feel like it's doing that to torture me."
"Why don't you go fix your suit or something and we'll call you with a location?" Natasha calmly suggested. Tony turned and looked at her. The machine bliped again. Tony snarled. Steve couldn't hold back his chuckle of amusement.
"Or, have JARVIS trace the blips. See who's faster at a location," Bruce softly muttered. Tony's face brightened. Suddenly he couldn't be out of there fast enough. The remaining three could barely contain their laughter at the billionaire as another blip drowned out Tony's cry of thanks. This time Bruce groaned.
"I can mute that," Natasha smartly stated. Bruce and Steve smiled.
"Please do," they called.
Fury frowned as he stared at his computer monitor. He couldn't be seeing that, could he? Three years ago, when Phil Coulson came to him with a radical idea of a tracking device, Fury didn't believe it could work. But time and time again, Coulson proved his old friend wrong. Fury was just thankful that he thought ahead and made sure to have himself be included in their little loop. Now though, Fury was staring at one active device that he really hated to see. With a deep groan, Fury turned on his comm.
"Agent Hill?" he called out as calmly as he could. There was a few seconds pause in which the director wondered if she was going to respond. After what happened earlier, he wouldn't be surprised if she didn't.
"Sir?" Hill's voice came back. Fury closed his eyes and placed a hand on the bridge of his nose. Squeezing tightly, he responded. Hill didn't sound pleased. Well, that was too bad. Fury wasn't pleased either.
"Call Agent Romanoff and get me a status report on Agent Barton," he ordered. Even without her speaking, Fury could feel her hesitation. It had actually only been less then ten hours since she had last spoken to the spy. How could that much have changed? "Now, Agent."
"Sir, yes, sir!"
Blip.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
Blip.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
"WHO THE FUCK IS RINGING?" Tony shouted. He had come back only a few minutes ago to join the others for food. When they realized he was going to stay with them, Natasha had turned back on the sound. At first, Tony tried to act like it didn't bother him. But the twitch in his right eye after a minute of beeping proved otherwise. And now the ringing phone was just too much. "GOD DAMN! JUST FUCKING ANSWER IT!"
"Romanoff?" Natasha muttered seconds later with a smirk. She hadn't even looked at her caller ID, a mistake she would later regret.
"Natasha?" came the unforgettable sound of Maria Hill's voice. Natasha's amusement immediately vanished. Bruce and Steve flashed her concerned and curious glances. She waved them off before standing and walking out of the room. "Natasha, is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be? You gave me enough warning," Natasha skirted. Hill hissed. Their earlier talk still on each of their mind. It had not gone well after Hill mentioned that Clint was in danger.
"Where is Barton? Can I speak to him?" Hill questioned. Natasha glanced back at the room she just left. Bruce was still sitting in his seat watching her. Steve was leaning forward, eye switching between her and the tracker. Tony was standing near the doorway, a condescending smirk on his face. It gave Natasha an idea. She paused, as though asking someone off the phone a question and waiting for a response.
"I asked. He said fuck no," Natasha replied. Bruce coughed. Steve's eyed widened. Tony forced himself to cover his hysterical laughter. Natasha was just thankful that Clint and Hill's relationship tended to be so poor otherwise this might not work. Hill sighed.
"Okay. Thanks for the update," Hill muttered. Natasha nodded. Not wanting to slip up, or dredge up the fight, Natasha pulled the phone away from her ear. Without saying good-bye, the spy hung up. Tony then burst out laughing. Natasha focused on him. Bruce was in the background shaking his head.
"Would he really have said that?" Steve asked, his eyes still wide. Natasha gave him a light smile as she looked to the super soldier. It was funny to her now. And it made her want to join in Tony's laughter. But she held herself to the smile.
"I forget that you don't know us well."
"I think Agent Barton is missing, sir," Hill reported, a slight bit of worry leaking into her tone. Fury cracked an eyebrow at this. He knew that Hill had good judgment calls like this, but he needed proof. Especially considering who she talking about. But after this year, Fury shouldn't be too surprised that one of his best agents may have been taken down.
"On what basis do you believe this?" Fury muttered as he sat back in his chair. Hill focused on his good eye for a brief second. He could tell she was checking to see if he was really asking for proof or not. Sometimes, like now, he asked for proof just for the fun of it. Other times, he wouldn't act unless their was valid proof.
"Agent Romanoff sounded strange during our conversation. There was no loud argument when I asked to speak to Agent Barton. She made no mention of our previous fight. And the conversation ended much too quickly," Hill stated. Fury nodded. All valid points that wouldn't work as proof for anyone but Romanoff and Barton. Fury's eye glanced back at his computer. The tracker was almost done. Just a few more blips and they'd know. Fury blinked.
"Shit!" he cursed and jumped from his chair. Hill's eyes widen but otherwise made no reaction to the change in her superior. "How the hell could they have found it?"
Fury cursed again before slamming his fists on his desk and storming around the furniture. Hill silently watched as he walked out the door and headed off down the hall. He was still loudly cursing as she turned back to his computer. Slowly she moved forward and looked at the screen.
Trace Lost.
HA! It ends so quickly. ^_^ I wish I could write longer chapters but I'm finding that writing around 1,500 words seems to be a great fit for each chapter.
Well, next chapter is all about Clint! Lots of torture and fun coming your way soon! Whoot whoot!