This is a nice long chapter for you guys! I said this was going to be posted like two days ago, but then I changed my mind. I was tired of posting short little chappies, so here's a real chapter, whump and all! Well, less whump and more team!worry/caring for Tony.
If you see a mistake, either ignore it or let me know about it!
Natasha gritted her teeth as she supported Clint. Neither of them were the most coherent, and Clint just felt like deadweight to her.
But she never wanted to let go. She wanted to take her knives, track down who did this to them, and take their eyeballs and force them to…
"No." She said out loud to herself, "Don't go there, Natasha Romanoff."
Clint glanced at her, "I've been telling myself the same thing. It's not working nearly as well as I'd hoped."
Natasha knew in that instance that he felt exactly the same way as she did, and was just as angry and murderous.
But Clint was also hurt, and that made Natasha all the more deadly.
When they reached the SHIELD vehicle that prominently displayed the eagle, the assassins found Cap, Thor, and an un-green Bruce.
"Aw, Tony's missing all the fun while he's at work." Clint smirked.
"If this is what you call fun in the twenty-first century, I feel pity for America." Steve said, but he sounded drowsy and not quite aware yet.
"How's Thor?" Natasha asked lowly, glancing at the unconscious demigod.
"He'll be fine, we're thinking, but whatever they used to take out the Hulk did some damage to him."
"I want to look at what they used," Bruce spoke up softly, but firmly, "It might come in handy…just in case."
"Doctor, don't think like that." Natasha said, as Steve clapped the smaller man on the shoulder and said, "You're not a danger, Bruce, especially not to us. We don't need that evil technology."
Bruce didn't looked convinced, but he let it drop. He leaned against the side of the vehicle and shut his eyes. Cap did the same, looking like he was about to fall over. Natasha turned to Clint, in time to see him wince in pain.
"Clint, are you okay?" She asked softly.
"I'll be fine, Nat." Clint said, "As long as you are."
Natasha didn't know whether to feel affronted or warmed by his words, so she choose both, "I will be. I always am, as long as I see you standing."
There, as SHIELD agents swarmed around them, Clint lightly pressed his lips against hers, spreading the unfamiliar feeling of be cared for through Natasha's veins.
A bright light exploded behind them. Both almost ignored it, but they broke away. Neither smiled, but stared at each other deeply, needing no words to convey how they felt.
Then the light stopped, and sudden realization hit Natasha hard and strong. She had only seen that light a few other times, the most prominently being the first time. When Tony had nearly killed himself.
That was the light of the unibeam.
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"What was that?" Steve slowly opened his eyes, squinting towards the light, "Was that a bomb?"
"Worse." Natasha said flatly, "Tony's unibeam."
Bruce opened his eyes and stood straight up quickly, "Where?"
Clint gestured widely towards the battleground in front of them, "Somewhere in there, I'm guessing."
The four tried to find the conspicuous genius in the crowd, but couldn't find him.
"Looking for me?" A raspy voice said behind them. They whirled around, each reaching for a weapon, when they saw that it was Tony.
Then they actually looked at Tony. His suit was falling apart, to the degree where there was all sorts of exposed under layers, with wires poking out occasionally. Sparks flew off a few. There were even a few spots that Tony's bloodied skin peeked through, though normally the armor was too thick and heavy to break down to the skin.
He slid the face plate up, and more injuries greeted them. Blood dripped down the side of his face, he was pale, and his pupils were much too large for the bright afternoon sun, though it was dipping quite low towards the horizon, probably around six at night. Cuts and bruises littered his face, though he didn't seem aware of them.
"Please tell me that's not all your blood," Clint pretended to wince, but he was right. The armor was coated in the red liquid, adding to the grotesque sight.
Tony looked down slowly, before saying just as slowly, without his usual eloquence or charm, "No. It's not mine."
"Tony, you have a concussion," Bruce said, quickly sitting the billionaire down in the passenger's seat of the SHIELD vehicle, "I need you to take the suit off."
"No! I have to find Pepper!" Tony struggled, and Bruce realized that the concussion was messing with his friend's head. Or at least, he hoped it was the concussion.
"Chill, Tony," Natasha said, helping Bruce settle him down, "Pepper is just over there, she's fine, I'll go get her…"
"Stark!" The whole team winced as Inkmear's voice came over the comm's with interference, "Stark, do you copy?"
"I copy," Tony said tiredly, "What's up, Smudge?"
"South flank needs some backup, and you're the only person fit to do it."
The team thought that Tony looked like the least fit person to do anything, but the genius was already far above their heads, his suit practically vanishing.
"I don't like this." Bruce said finally, "Tony looks really hurt."
"He does." Clint agreed, "Wonder if they," He jerked a thumb towards the captured AIM leaders, "know anything about what happened to him?"
Steve was the first to approach the tied men, standing impressively over them, "Answer our questions, and you won't get hurt." He said, now sounding the opposite of tired. He had a job to do now, and he wasn't going to let some head injury get in his way.
"We ain't sayin' nothin'." One spat at Steve. Natasha started forward angrily, but Clint held her back, "Steve's the best interrogator out of all of us," He whispered to her, "Except maybe you."
"She did get Loki to talk," Bruce added quietly, "That's quite impressive."
"Just a matter of smoke and mirrors," Natasha shrugged.
The sound a hard punch, skin hitting skin, sounded, and they saw Steve standing over one of the men, who was now unconscious.
"You next, unless you talk," He growled. The man gulped, but stared flintily at Steve. He was soon also out like a light, leaving three more.
It was the fourth man who finally broke down, after seeing three of his companions drooling lifelessly on the ground.
"Fine! Fine!" The man yelped, "Stark was kidnapped! By Qui! And Len!"
The fifth leader shouted obscenities at the squealer, but was unable to talk after Steve knocked his into oblivion.
"There, now we don't have to worry about him anymore," Steve said conversationally, "What were you saying about Qui and Len?"
"He was held in Stark Tower by them, and the plan was MODOK was supposed to have him by now! MODOK the absolute will have you all!" The man struggled.
"He was tortured?" Natasha asked fluidly, "Answer me, was he tortured?" That seemed to have more meaning to her than to the rest of them.
The man nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, he was!" He began sobbing brokenly, and the team turning away in disgust.
Steve sighed wearily, hurting for his teammate, "And he's out fighting right now…"
"Don't judge Stark, Captain," Natasha said quietly, "This is how he copes with torture."
"He's been tortured before?" Bruce asked. Whatever weapon they used on the Hulk (and Thor) had put the monster to sleep, and though Bruce was angry, the monster stayed deeply buried.
Natasha hesitated, before nodding, "I won't tell you anything though," She said, "That's Tony's story to tell."
Steve and Clint nodded, accepting that, but Bruce looked ready to argue. Inkmear interrupted them, however.
"Avengers," He said, "They are all rounded up. Stark, return to your team, and meet us at the helicarrier for a debriefing."
The team agreed, but Tony's voice was suspiciously absent. The team wondered where he was until he crashed right next to them.
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Tony shot into the sky as soon as Inkmear said that the south flank needed help. He didn't want any of his team getting hurt after their recent hostage situation. The genius didn't even think for a moment about how he had also been a hostage.
He ducked and weaved around the men, his suit slowly falling apart.
"Sir, the repulsors are averaging at 30%, thrusters averaging at 20%." Jarvis said. Tony nodded, already knowing that.
"Intergrity?" He croaked, twisting out of the way of spray of bullets.
"Integrity and force field at functioning levels. Integrity at 26%."
"Thanks, J. Record Storage Wars for me, will ya?"
"Of course, sir. Ms. Potts will be upset that you'll be late."
"Let her know, and that I love her."
"As I always do, sir." Jarvis said.
"Thanks, Jarvis," Tony said again, shooting straight up in the sky only to dive down as fast as he could with the built up potential energy to slam ten men into unconsciousness.
But the morphine shot he'd had earlier was wearing off, and he had no more drugs on him. He could feel the poison, and he could feel his other wounds.
Basically, he was back to square one. There were less men, so maybe he could just go to his lab quickly and fix up an antidote…Jarvis had said the antidote was highly improbable, but Tony was a classified genius, and could probably do it in time…
"Avengers," Inkmear said out of nowhere, "They are all rounded up. Stark, return to your team, and meet us at the helicarrier for a debriefing."
Thank god, Tony thought, taking a hairpin turn so he was heading straight towards the team. He was actually worried about his own heath this time, and slightly panicked, though it didn't show. He wanted Bruce to at least know before he passed out, so the doctor could fix it.
But it was too late. Tony just barely saw the smudges that were his team before his eyes fluttered shut and he fell limply to the ground.
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The team, except for one unconscious Thor, surrounded Tony quickly, each leaning over him worriedly.
"Steve, strip the suit." Bruce commanded, "Clint, get the helmet."
Since the armor was already so patchy, neither warrior had any trouble pulling it off until it was just Tony, laying on the pavement.
He looked so much smaller without the armor, Bruce noted dully, more civilian, less hero. Less suited to this life style. No wonder Pepper was constantly in a state of worry and concern for her boyfriend.
"Someone should get Pepper," He heard himself say. Natasha volunteered, and quickly left.
Bruce looked over Tony critically, his heart pounding in compassion. First was Tony's face, which was cut and bruised liberally. The doctor wouldn't be surprised if the inventor had a concussion, based on the wound on the back of his head.
A black eye was noticeable, and that infuriated Bruce more than anything. The rest of these injuries could have, probably didn't, but could have come from fighting, which was Tony's choice. However, a black eye came from someone's punch, and with the new information on Tony's kidnapping, Bruce knew someone had deliberately hit the man, forcing Tony to sit and take it.
There was a long cut across the chest, a few inches above the reactor, almost reaching the critical jugular.
His wrists were burnt, raw and bloody.
A bullet wound was bleeding slowly by his hip.
The injuries just kept going, and Bruce kept getting more and more numb as he went on.
"Tony? Tony?" Steve heard Pepper before he saw her, and then her and Natasha came running into view.
Pepper stopped dead for a second when she saw her boyfriend, her hand instantly going to her mouth, "Is he…?" She choked out, eyes wide.
"No," Steve hastened to reassure her, "No, he's okay. He'll be okay."
She dropped down by his head, brushing his forehead, "Tony," She whispered, eyes bright but not crying.
"I called an ambulance, Pepper," Natasha said, resting a hand momentarily on the redheads trembling arm, "They'll be here soon. We'll follow them to the hospital."
No one bothered to let Inkmear now about these developments. If it had been Coulson, he would have been there with the team. But no one wanted the newbie around right now, unfairly blaming all this on him.
The ambulance did arrive quickly, and the team minus Tony and plus Pepper piled into the limo that was being driven by one Happy Hogan. Darcy and Jane were inside already. It spoke legends about Tony's wealth that he had a limo big enough to fit all of them comfortably.
Pepper sat by Happy in the front seat. Jane sat by the unaware Thor, talking softly to him, urging him to wake up. Steve sat on the demigods other side, hoping his two team members would be okay.
Bruce sat off by himself, an empty seat beside him seeming to become large by the moment. Normally a loud energetic inventor would be there, but not now.
Natasha and Clint sat stonily, not acknowledging anyone.
Darcy tried to comfort Bruce, but realized it was hopeless, and settled for making small chat with Steve and Jane.
Happy kept up with the ambulance very well, having learned how to navigate New York traffic quickly, especially since Tony had challenged him to more
than one race on the crowded streets.
Thor woke not long after Happy called out that they were halfway there. Disoriented, he glanced around hazily.
"Thor," Jane said, relieved, "Are you okay?"
"Lady Jane," Thor said, smiling largely, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Thor," Jane said, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I was worried about you."
"No mortal can best me," Thor boasted, "You have no cause of worry." The demigod glanced around the cabin, "Are not the Avengers missing one?"
"Tony's hurt, Thor," Steve said quietly, "We're going to the hospital now."
"Hospital," Thor said thoughtfully, "I have heard of such a place."
Jane quickly explained to him what a hospital was in detail, and how injured Tony was.
"Your tale sounds of how Man of Iron fought valiantly," Thor said sorrowfully, "We shall see if it was worth it."
The limo fell silent again, the silent deep and oppressing until it was broke by one scream.
Pepper's scream.
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When Pepper had seen Natasha running towards her, she hadn't panicked right away. But part of her wondered where Tony was, and if he was okay.
"Pepper," Natasha said, "I need you to come with me."
"Is it Tony?" Pepper said automatically, following with the only thing she usually said during a battle, "Is Tony okay?"
Natasha pressed her lips together, "Come with me, Pepper. He needs you. He's pretty injured."
"How injured?" Pepper demanded, "Is he going to be okay?"
"I don't know." Natasha shook her head, "The longer we wait, the worse he could get."
Pepper had nodded and followed the fellow redhead quickly, stripping off her heels so she could run faster.
When Pepper had seen Tony, lying lifelessly on the ground , she hadn't tried to assume the worst. But part of her asked the fateful question anyway.
"Is he…?" She choked on the words, trying to stop them, but ultimately failing.
"No, no. He's okay. He'll be okay." Steve said hastily, from his position at Tony's side.
Pepper dropped down by Tony's head, brushing his skin softly, comfortingly, with her fingers.
"Tony." She murmured, willing him to wake up, but nothing had happened.
Tony hadn't heard her.
When Pepper had climbed into the limo to follow the ambulance, with Happy Hogan driving, she hadn't meant to break the laws. But part of her begged Happy to follow the ambulance as quickly as possible.
Pepper was surprised that no cops had pulled them over yet. The traffic pulled over to let the emergency vehicle through, and Happy bulldozed through them to follow.
She had a tight grip on the door handle, skin white.
The other were talking in the back, but Pepper pretended not to hear them, though each word echoed through her head.
Her eyes remained locked on the vehicle in front of her, but she breathed steadily. Passing out was not an option.
The wash of red and blue over her was life and death.
When the ambulance in front of her exploded, causing her to scream loudly in shock, Pepper hadn't tried to panic, assume the worst, or break the laws. But she had done all three.
Pepper ran out into the traffic towards the burning mass of metal.
I hope this is good! I read back over the whole story whilst writing this piece, and felt almost uncomfortable with it. Like, it's a lot gory-er than I originally intended, and really, more creepy than I'm comfortable with. I don't want to rewrite it, but it's kinda weird. Now I feel kinda like a bad writer. :(
So shoot me a review to cheer me up! Or tell me you agree with me, whichever applies :D
PS! My poll is closed, forevermore! You missed your chance! And since it is a tie, I'll be choosing which I want to do among the two choices.
Thanks to the NINE people who polled (is that the proper term for it?). You guys rock. So do my reviewers/favoriters! :D