A/N: Hi, everyone! So, I realize that it's been three months since I've last posted a new chapter. Yikes! Sorry, time does fly... I'll try to post more regularly now because exam periods are finally over.
More importantly, at the beginning of this month, you must have noticed that Avengers 2 has finally come out! How was it? I haven't been able to watch it yet, but I do know the plot.
Of course, this is wonderful, but it does mean that my story is now outdated. I suppose it can now (gasp!) be called AU, because this is all before the events of Avengers 2. So, just to clarify, this story takes place before Avengers 2.
Because I had originally planned this story to be part of a trilogy (and this was way before the movie came out) I'm thinking of just continuing my plan, and not adjusting it to fit Avengers 2.
What do you think?
Anyway, onwards!
He's not sure where exactly everything went wrong. Nor how he came to be in this predicament, with men surrounding him fully with guns pointed at various vital organs, and him right on the edge of the helicarrier.
Maybe it was when a large magnet had appeared suddenly next to the helicarrier, flying smoothly alongside it, a couple meters away. Once positioned, it had pulled the shield with surprising force. Rogers kept a strong grip on it but was forced to let it go when he was tottering on the edge and about to fall off. The shield flew gracefully until it stuck onto the magnet with a large bang. He reached for his gun, only to find that it was stuck right next to the shield. That had left him completely unarmed and dumbfounded, the latter of which wasted a few precious moments, allowing him to be surrounded.
Or maybe the plan had gone wrong earlier, when his communicator had suddenly gone haywire as soon as he entered outside and closed the door behind him. He should have known that something was wrong. Stark's devices didn't break that easily and for no reason, he had to admit.
Either way, there's not much he can do now. He contemplates falling off the edge. That would prevent him being shot, but what else would that achieve? He'd free fall for a while and have to rely on someone saving him, or else. And everyone sounded preoccupied at best before he lost communication. And if no one came to the rescue... No, that wouldn't help at all.
The men don't look like they'll take him hostage. One of them - the leader of this small group, he assumes - is talking on his radio to his superior. Although the strong wind prevents much sound from being heard, he can still make out enough to determine that they're preparing to kill him. It just seems that there's a miscommunication as to when and where.
The falling plan is looking better by the second.
The leader hangs up his communicator and makes a gesture that the men seem to understand. They raise their guns, although still obviously nervous at the thought of killing a super soldier. He makes a small but sure move towards the edge, forcing himself not to look at the endless expanse of sky below him. He stares coldly at each of them in turn, hoping to buy a few more moments with which to think of a plan. His mind feels slower today, as if it is running complacently through lukewarm water.
At that moment, some of the men fall to the ground with a cry of pain. This is the distraction he was looking for.
He can fall, or he can fight.
He lunges for the nearest man and grabs his rifle, kneeing him in the gut to make him lose his grip. It works, and the man crumples to the ground, leaving Rogers armed once again. He hears the whizz of bullets flying towards him. He crouches, hoping to avoid them. Instead of reaching him, however, they stop midway, dropping as if they have reached a wall. He shoots at the rest of the men, seeing them all crumple to the ground. This all feels vaguely familiar.
The déjà vu is interrupted by a high-pitched shout. He looks up to see one of the men wrestling with another person, trying to push that person off the edge. It must be the person who fired the initial shots, killing and distracting the men enough for him to take action. It's only after this long thought process that he realizes that the person is Elizabeth.
She totters on the edge, wide eyed, gripping the man's arms with the force of desperation. He could shoot at the man, but he isn't confident in his shooting skills and may hit Elizabeth instead. And even if he did hit the man, that would make the man collapse, leaving her without anything to hold on to. Instead, Rogers runs towards them. The man looks back and locks eyes with Rogers. He frantically pushes Elizabeth off the edge and runs.
Her balance is broken as she leans back. She slips off the edge.
In one swift motion, Rogers grabs her arm and pulls her towards him to safety. He turns and fires one clean shot into the head of the retreating man.
My heart beats uncontrollably - and what I find unprofessionally - in my chest, and my breathing comes in shallow breaths. While having that push fight with the man, I had made the mistake of looking down at the endless nothingness. My stomach churns and I take a few deep breaths to calm it. It's only after a while that I hear Rogers speaking to me insistently. Not speaking, I realize. Asking.
Question one: "Are you ok?" he asks. I nod while trying to regain my calm. He looks unconvinced at the answer but lets it pass.
Question two: "Were you the one who fired the first shots and distracted them?" I show my affirmative again.
Question three: "What are you doing here?" Now this requires a longer answer. I take a deep breath and tell him the whole story, from Barton and I realizing that this is a repeat to me stopping Tony, and finally coming here to help him.
He ponders that for a long time while I study his eyes. They remain the natural blue they were, but look a bit cloudy, with flecks dotting the pupils. Perhaps they're similar symptoms. Either way, the fact that he was drawn to this place and that people were waiting for him is a clear sign someone's been tampering with his mind.
"Alright, let's go get the others," he says. He pauses though, for a moment, and looks to his side. I follow his gaze to see his shield stuck to the side of a large metallic aircraft. No wonder he couldn't fight for himself. "Hold on a second," he says. He pushes me gently to one side, close to the wall. I stay, slightly confused as to what he is going to do.
He surveys the edge, looking from the aircraft to the floor that he is standing on. He seems to be measuring the distance. Oh no. It can't be what I'm thinking...
He takes a couple step backwards and leaps to the other side. I almost faint. With ease, he lands on the rim and holds on to his gun, using it as his handle and plucking his gun off. He tries to take his shield too, but it is stuck too hard for him. He sidesteps until he reaches the door and enters it. Even from this distance and with my heart pounding in my chest, I can hear the sounds of fighting. A little while later, the aircraft flies nearer. He comes out, picks his shield off, and jumps back.
It's only at this point that I wonder how Barton is doing. I haven't heard anything from his side.
A/N: Please comment below about how you would like me to continue this story: should I adjust it to fit Avengers 2, or just do what I have written and planned? Thank you.