Chapter 15

The Museum

Steve hadn't thought much about the presentation he'd been asked to give. He had shown up in his uniform with his shield on his back to give a speech and open the museum. Good publicity for an opening to have Captain America there not to mention the museum was dedicated to him. Steve wanted to convince the owners to change the museum though, he didn't mind it showing his history and heroics but he thought it should be expanded and just become a museum for all heroes to celebrate the work everyone had done. For now though he wasn't going to complain as he finished up his usual speech. He was used to giving them and they always came easily to him and seemed to inspire people, at least for a few minutes. He looked at the cameras, the reporters and general population that had gathered round but something didn't sit right in his gut.

He'd done these things a million times but the faces he looked at didn't seem familiar, he didn't think he could name a single one of the reporters which was very odd. He scanned the crowd looking for one familiar face and finally landed on one though not one he was expecting. Natasha? He was aware of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hunt for Natasha though he was never sure what for, some ludicrous crime that made no sense to him. He had refused to join the hunt knowing full well that if Natasha had broken a law then it was for a good reason. For her to risk being out at a public event though, there had to be something serious going on. His eyes stayed trained on her for a moment longer, noticing a slight nod from her. Guess something is up.

He waved to the crowd with his usual smile looking away from Natasha so as not to draw attention by the time he looked back she was long gone. He knew whatever this was about she'd find him again, she always did. Each time she disappeared she would show back up when he least expected it.

Steve turned towards the door of the museum moving to open it with some politician standing beside him, one of the Senators he supposed but once again he couldn't place him. Steve gripped the handle of the thick wooden door, though it was reinforced with metal the wood parts were chosen just for their looks. Steve smiled again as he stood in front of that door the cameras flashing behind him, he turned slightly to wave again to give the cameras a better shot instead of his back side. That was when the smell hit him though it was faint and certainly coming from inside. It was like a mix of pig iron and ether. Only one creature Steve had ever met had that smell.

Hulk? Natasha and Hulk here? This isn't going to end well. Steve gripped the handle and stayed there. All eyes on him waiting for him to open the doors but he didn't want to. His stomach turned, he could barely make out the words of the man beside him who was asking if he was okay. Steve wasn't an idiot for Hulk to be here and not making any noise something was being planned. For Natasha to risk being here with so many cameras around, whatever was going on was going to be big. With how closely he felt he was being watched for past short while, everything started to pile up. Is this a trap? Only one way to find out.

Steve took a deep breath, his shield was on his back so he could quickly be ready if this went south but possibly not fast enough. Natasha won't hurt me. To be honest right now he wasn't sure about that. Hulk won't hurt me, if he was going to he'd be rampaging by now. So then if they won't then there has to be someone else. He finally pulled the door open, whatever trap this was he needed to spring it to get anywhere then he could find who set it and deal with them. There was a soft click but nothing came. He could feel everyone behind him holding their breath but he wasn't sure why yet, he was the one with the pounding heart. Clicks don't tend to lead to good things. After a few moments a voice in the crowd came, "Hey what's going on? Why'd nothing happen?"

Steve turned to face the crowd who seemed confused but not at the voice, they seemed to agree with the voice. Another voice came from inside the museum, "Huh, what'd ya know Bruce was right. Pull out those wires and nothing but a click." Steve recognized the voice fairly quickly, Clint.

"What you had reason to doubt him?" That was clearly Natasha.

"Well when he said that he thought it would work but could explode I had my doubts as you might understand. I don't like sticking my hand in things that might explode," Clint replied.

"Natasha? Clint? What's going on?" Steve called watching the group of reporters in front of him whisper to each other.

"Steve you might want to come inside, it'll be safer in here," Natasha called out in response.

Steve watched the reporters start to put their equipment down taking it apart to show hidden weapons. Steve backed up into the museum, once inside Natasha pushed the door closed. Steve looked around at Natasha then at Clint who was standing beside a rather calm looking Hulk. "Any of you want to explain what's going on?"

"Long story short, your buddies out there are working for Hydra, this entire place was a trap set up by an insane alien who took over S.H.I.E.L.D. Clint disabled the trap then kept Hulk calm so he wouldn't smash through and wall and into the crowd. I pick pocketed the Hydra agents to make sure I could get the remote detonations of their explosives off them and now we're barricading ourselves in here while our new friends get their weapons ready to come in here and take us all down," Natasha quickly explained.

"There's an insane alien running S.H.I.E.L.D. That oddly explains a lot," Steve replied pulling his shield off his back, "We got a plan?"

"Well I was thinking we send Hulk out to negotiate diplomacy personally," Clint replied, "His fists tend to be an effective diplomatic strategy."

"No, our alien buddy will have made sure his buddies are equipped to deal with Hulk we need to be careful," Natasha replied, "Thus far our only plan is to bottle neck them in here and hope we can split the groups up until we can get a clear shot to our quinjet to go get Tony before A.I.M. make their move."

"Tony's in trouble too?" Steve questioned.

"He will be," Clint replied, "Anyways sounds like the plan is up to you Capt."

Steve heard the Hydra agents start to approach the door as he thought, "Hulk find the heaviest thing you can and block the door with it. Natasha we need to cut the power so they'll be blind in here. Then we'll need to split up and go different directions, one of you goes with Hulk down that hall and the other with me down that one. They'll split up to find us and we'll be able to take them out."

Hulk nodded grabbing a display, luckily with Captain America being a war hero there were tanks granted they were tanks that didn't work but were still very heavy. Hulk smashed it in front of the door to block the way in.

"Dibs out on going with Hulk," Clint piped up, "No offense big guy. We've been keeping each other company for a long while already; only fair that Natasha gets a chance to enjoy your company." Clint smirked at Natasha who shrugged.

"I don't mind," Natasha moved over beside Hulk, "Kind of fun to watch Hydra agents run from Hulk. Besides the two of us have been getting along just fine. Come on Hulk, let's go wait for them over here while Capt and Clint make their own plan." Natasha waved for Hulk to follow her to their side of the museum. Clint watched her go concerned about the bullet wound she still had healing, hoping that Hulk would be able to protect her and stop her from opening the wound up. That really was his main reason for backing out of going with Hulk though he didn't want to admit it; Natasha would bite his head off if he did.

"Well then soldier you're with me," Steve replied patting Clint's shoulder snapping him out of his thoughts, "I'm glad to see you again Clint. I was worried about everything I heard. All the communications between the team have been basically none for a while now and when S.H.I.E.L.D. mentioned that Natasha was wanted but wouldn't say anything about you I was concerned you had gotten yourself killed."

"Yeah, well," Clint replied as the two walked down their hallway, "not for lack of trying."

"I'm kind of surprised that Hulk is here with you two," Steve commented, "I'm not complaining but last time I checked you three weren't on a speaking basis let alone a helping each other one."

"A lot of things have changed in the last little while," Clint replied, "S.H.I.E.L.D. were trying to break me and they nearly did when Natasha showed up with Bruce. The two had somewhat patched things up before coming to get me."

"I'm glad for that," Steve replied, "the whole business it always bothered me."

"You're not the one who had to get chewed out by Bruce and hear him say how much he hated you," Clint replied, "You didn't have to live with the guilt."

"You think the rest of us never felt guilt, Clint?" Steve questioned he was both surprised and offended as he did so, "Everyone felt bad about what happened. Bruce nearly died and despite us coming in to help him we still lost him to that event. We all wish we had done things differently back then."

"I suppose you're right," Clint replied, "He told me that he helped because Tash reminded him of himself when she asked for help. That and the fact that we went back for him and wouldn't let him die."

Steve nodded in understanding and walked in silence for a short while before stopping for a moment, "Clint, I know this really isn't the best time but when it comes to that incident. Do you ever wonder what happened to all of that blood they got from Bruce? They had him for so long and only a few bags were being sold on the black market. So where did the rest go?"

"Who knows? Hopefully to some storage lab where they'll be forgotten or maybe someone used them and the radiation killed him," Clint replied, "Really it's been so long I can't imagine anyone still having them sitting around without trying something. I just hope they're destroyed and if I ever do find them I'll beat the guy who has them into a bloody pulp and destroy the blood myself."

"I suppose you're right," Steve nodded and looked around at the room they entered. It seemed to be a section where they were showing off vehicles and airships that Steve used or fought. There were plenty of hiding spots amongst the exhibits, "Man these things bring back memories. Go find some high ground we should be able to pick them off here if we're careful."

"Just in time," Clint muttered as the sound of the front door being forced open echoed through the museum. Clint walked around to one of the air ship displays and started to climb up the side to get to higher ground where he could snipe. "This is it." Clint prepared himself watching the entrance of the room and remaining aware of where Steve was below him. Steve edged around the exhibits keeping low and moving silently. There was an angered roar, at first Clint was sure it was Hulk but when it sounded again he realized it was different. A second roar joined it but once again it wasn't Hulk's.

"What the?" Clint muttered wondering what was going on. There was the sound of something large moving towards the room. Clint shot a glance at Steve who watched the doorway. Within a moment a few Hydra agents walked in but right after them came Abomination. "So they have a few tricks up their sleeves," Clint muttered again keeping his sight set on Abomination. A few more Hydra agents entered the room spreading out to search for the group. He glanced down at Steve who was quickly moving and doing his best to stay out of the way until he got a chance to take some of the agents down while working out a plan to deal with Abomination.

Something didn't sit right with Clint though, one roar would explain Abomination but he had heard two. His mind raced wondering what the second creature in the building was and the knowledge that it was heading for Hulk and Natasha made his stomach turn. "They'll be fine. Focus," Clint's aim focused on one of the Hydra agents who had moved out of sight of the group. He released the arrow and as soon as he did, he didn't wait to see if it would hit he started moving to find a new spot to hide to get another shot.

Abomination sniffed the air as one of the Hydra agents fell to the arrow. The other agents ran over to see what was going while Abomination relied on his enhanced sense of smell to find out what he was dealing with and pinpoint it. He looked up at the spot where Clint was just a moment before and growled when he saw nothing. "Some of them are in here but not the animal," Abomination spat.

"Hulk's a lot less of an animal than you are," Steve yelled tossing his shield at the hydra agents who had gathered by their fallen companion. His shield bounced knocking a few of them out but now he was out in the open and in clear sight. Steve shot a glance up trying to spot Clint's new spot knowing he was going to rely on his back up.

"Captain America," Abomination growled, "I was hoping I'd be the one to find that monster but I suppose destroying you will have to do. My new friend will deal with that monster."

"We can't destroy him," one of the Hydra agents commented, "We need them alive so says the boss, your master."

Abomination looked annoyed but growled, "Fine but that doesn't mean I can't break them a little and have some fun." He started toward Steve figuring that this would be an easier fight for him.

As Abomination moved towards Steve, Clint released one of his many trick arrows at it. "Hey, ugly you forgot one thing." The arrow latched onto Abomination's back, "Both Capt and I have spent time on the team with Hulk, and he's a lot harder to pin down than you are. But we've had to develop a lot of tricks to deal with creatures like you. I find shock collars work the best." Clint smirked as he triggered an electric pulse from the arrow, shocking Abomination. It stunned him long enough for Steve to start punching and get the upper hand. Clint prepared another arrow, explosive head this time. He knew he had to keep Abomination on the defensive until Steve got a shot at knocking him out. Once it looked like Abomination was going to make a move against Steve to stop the punches, Clint released the arrow. He watched as the explosion lit up the room. Smoke now blocking his line of sight he didn't notice Abomination ripping up a piece of the floor and tossing it at him until it was too close for his taste. The large piece of rubble hit Clint's arm hard and forced him to drop his bow to the ground. "Not good."

While Abomination focused his attention on Clint, Steve got a change through the smoke to attack the large figure in front of him. Leaping up into the air he smashed his shield down onto Abomination's head. The creature toppled over but while Capt tried to catch his breath, through the smoke one of the remaining Hydra members snuck up behind him and returned the blow. Steve fell as Clint tried to see what was going on through the smoke. He coughed a few times, his arm limp from the impact of the rubble. He soon saw the Hydra goon standing over Steve who was trying to get back up after the very brief moment of unconsciousness. Clint saw the gun get raised against his friend and swallowed hard. His heart racing stopping him from thinking straight and when you can't think straight and a friend is about to get shot right below you, there's only one answer. Clint jumped. He thought about how much he hated Hydra and had a touch bit of hate towards Steve for getting into this situation, mostly Hydra though. Also sort of hated himself. After all, if you could toss just about anything else at someone and hit them, like maybe a rock or even getting off one of the trick arrow heads and throwing it, that would be the smart thing to do. But noooo he had to go and throw himself. Yeah, good plan. Clint landed hard on the Hydra agent, knocking him out rather painfully. At least he didn't shoot Steve but now Clint found himself lying on his back side on top of a Hydra agent. This really wasn't how he was expecting to ever spend a day.

Steve stood up and coughed a few times from the smoke and dust that had been disturbed. He soon offered Clint his hand to help the other man get up. "The best you could come up with was "hey ugly"?" Steve questioned.

"You try coming up with clever insults when you senses are being bombarded by that smell," Clint commented as he took the hand and with a very loud groan of pain got up. "Okay next time you get cornered by a Hydra agent… Don't expect me to jump on them for you."

"Why didn't you just throw something?" Steve questioned.

"I'm a Master Marksman and have skills with pretty much every ranged weapon," Clint replied, "If I can't hit something with myself now and then I may lose that title."

"You didn't think about it until you were falling, did you?" Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Shut up," Clint grumbled, "How do you think Hulk and Tash are holding up?"

"Well I'm sure neither of them are tackling Hydra goons with their back side," Steve smirked.

"I'm not saving you ever again," Clint grumbled.

In reality Hulk and Natasha's situation was close to that of Clint and Steve's. Natasha had taken on the Hydra agents with help from Hulk who ripped up the floor to create a wall for Natasha to hide behind and avoid bullets. Then Hulk had to face Hydra's new pet, Windigo. Hulk had fought the creature before but it was just as powerful as it was before which unfortunately for Hulk was very strong. Its hardened talons broke through Hulk's skin with each slash. Each time Hulk broke something, it healed. Now Hulk had gotten it by the wrists and was pushing against it but it was pushing back. The two weren't moving though they kept pushing against each other but found themselves even. Hulk was trying to maintain control of himself instead of losing to rage which would result in him hurting everyone, but it meant he was equal with the white creature before him.

Natasha was unsure how to assist it seemed that her bullets just bounced off the skin of the creature similar to how they bounced off Hulk providing her no assistance. She'd considering an electrical charge but the chances of her hitting Hulk with it as well were too great and such a shock could cost them the battle or push Hulk over the edge. For now she was trapped watching and trying to come up with some sort of plan but most of the answers she could think of would hit Hulk as well.

The creature grew bored with pushing against Hulk so it neatly side stepped and caused Hulk's forward motion to continue causing him to fall. Hulk started to bring the creature down with him since he had a grip on its wrists but one hand let go as a reflex to try to catch himself. The Windigo, though falling, now had one hand free and rammed it into Hulk's exposed back. The claws sunk in deep causing Hulk to roar in pain as his green blood escaped from the wound and started to pool on the floor. Hulk went limp for a bit, his body trying to recover from the shock of the sudden injury, even Hulk's body took time to adapt to such a shock.

Natasha winced when she heard Hulk's roar, it was the sound of pure pain. She felt useless seeing this happen, unable to match the strength of the two creatures but seeing the claws jammed inside Hulk she finally started to have a plan. If the claws could break Hulk's skin, then they should be able to break to skin of the Windigo. "Hulk! You need to get up and listen to me. Show this thing why you're the strongest!" She knew she had to get Hulk to focus and to get even angrier than he was. "Don't lose your title to an overgrown ape."

Hulk growled, bracing himself against the floor despite the pain. He pushed off with both of his arms, tossing himself back into the creature. The sudden movement of the creature's arm inside his body made him roar in pain again but the sudden force against the Windigo also forced it to pull its arm out and try to defend itself. Hulk had thrown himself hard enough against it to knock it a bit away from him. Natasha took the time to get out a thin wire and with outstanding accuracy and skill got it lassoed around one of the wrists of the Windigo. She pulled on the wire knowing she wouldn't be able to last long against its strength.

"Hulk, listen to me. It's time for this creature to feel what its own claws are like." The creature pulled against the wire causing Natasha to be pulled forward though she tried to brace herself as best she could to hold the claw where she wanted it and give Hulk the chance he needed. Hulk took a few deep breaths but his rest couldn't last long, the Windigo was starting to turn on Natasha and he knew full well that Natasha still hadn't recovered from the bullet wound not to mention she wouldn't recover from the claws of the Windigo. Even if it didn't scratch her deeply, its claws were still drenched in Hulk's blood which could easily manipulate Natasha's blood and turn her into something else or kill her from radiation. Considering how strong her body tended to be the chance seemed more likely that it would turn her into something else and Hulk didn't really want to fight a Hulked out Natasha.

Hulk charged forward grabbing the wrist of the Windigo that now had the wire on it and started to force it back on the creature, aiming for the gut. The Windigo fought back with its other arm trying to hold Hulk away from it and get its other arm free but that gave Natasha the moment she needed to get behind it. Sliding between the legs of Hulk and the Windigo, Natasha stood up on the other side the wire still in her hand. She braced herself against the damaged floor and started to pull. She might not have been the strongest but she was hoping her added strength and the tightening wire on the Windigo's wrist would let Hulk finally plunge the claws into the creature. Natasha was grateful that she was wearing gloves as she gripped the wire tight enough that without the gloves she would probably be drawing her own blood. She was certain her arms were going to give out before she made any ground as the Windigo held both her and Hulk off for a short while longer. Natasha felt the stitches Bruce had done start to break from the strain but didn't let up against the Windigo. She started to mutter, "Come on, come on."

Finally with a roar of frustration from Hulk as his body finally started to heal he added enough strength to push the claws into the Windigo. Natasha fell backwards at the sudden slack in the wire but was back up in an instant. Hulk stood over the Windigo which had fallen to its knees, Hulk's hand still on its arm not allowing it to pull the claws out. Hulk growled starting to lose himself in the rage waiting for the creature to die. The creature started to become smaller as time passed slowly reverting back to the cursed man it was.

Natasha ran over to Hulk placing a hand on his arm to get his attention, "Hulk, let his arm go you're going to kill him. We beat him; we don't need to kill him." She didn't generally care if someone who tried to kill her died, but she had been trying to make amends to her old ways and avoid it. More importantly the man inside the Windigo was cursed, in some ways like Bruce was and she knew Bruce wouldn't forgive himself if he killed someone. Not to mention Hulk already had a bad reputation. "Please Hulk, just let him go. Let his body recover before he goes back and dies. Please."

Hulk glared at Natasha for a moment as the Windigo continued to grow weaker but with an unhappy snort his eyes became softer towards Nataasha and Hulk let go of the arm. The Windigo collapsed, pulling it hand out of its own gut, waiting to see if it was too late or not. With a few soft whimpers of pain the wound started to close even as the Windigo continued to lose its strength. Hulk snorted again and started to walk away not saying anything to Natasha who was grateful that Hulk had listened and come to his senses in time. She retrieved her wire and follow Hulk back to the main entrance meeting up with Clint and Steve.

Clint looked at the quickly drying green blood that covered Hulk's body as well as the red blood from the Windigo that covered one of his hands and then to the mess that Natasha was from the fight. "You two look like you've seen better days."

"This day isn't over yet, Clint," Natasha replied one of her hands holding where the stitches had broken. She needed to get Bruce back so he could fix them again. "We still need to save Tony."

The four exhausted Avengers looked at each other unsure if they had the energy to save Tony though none of them said anything about it, they didn't even mention the fights they had to endure. They started silently back to their quinjet to head for Stark Tower, with any luck Tony had his own defenses up to deal with threats but since when were they lucky?

((As usual characters are not mine.))