"Shit, uh we have a situation," Clint reported through his com.
"Language, Barton. You found Stark?" Steve asked. They were currently on a retrieval mission to save Tony, as at his most recent company meeting, he was drugged and kidnapped before the suit or anyone else could assist him. It had taken them 2 weeks to track him down and when they finally did, it was thanks to the fact that at some point some type of tracking device was able to send a brief message that gave them a location that they could follow up on. Of course, it could have been a trap, but it was the best lead they had and likely some type of message from Tony, so they decided to suit up and go to the location. Rather than respond, Clint made a choking sound and cursed again,
"No, uh there's a kid here... and the arc reactor."
"What do you mean the arc reactor?" It was Bruce's voice who chimed in sharply, this time. He wasn't currently the Hulk as they figured "Bruce mode" would probably be more helpful when they retrieved Tony, but the stress of what Clint was about to say probably would send him into "Hulk mode" within the next few moments if he didn't choose his word and tone very carefully.
"I'm standing in front of a holding cell with a kid in it... no older than... 6 maybe and in the back corner I can see the arc reactor. It doesn't look damaged so that's good... right?"
"Yeah," Bruce took a deep breath, "Yes. As long as it hasn't been out for long and there is no damage to the casing, it should be easy for me to put it back in with minimal problems, but it's important we find Tony as soon as possible. We don't know how long the reactor has been out."
"Steady breaths Bruce," Natasha reminded him in a low voice, at his side. Then louder and to his realization, with her com back on, as she had disabled it so the others didn't realize she had to remind him to breathe properly, "How long can he go without it?" She probably already knew the answer, but he replied anyway,
"Honestly? I don't know. It all depends on the situation. Considering we can assume that he was being tortured, or at least being put through some type of stress worse than the general stress of kidnapping, not long." There was a pause where no one said anything.
"Alright, Barton you take care of the kid and watch out for any more guards. The rest of us will search for Stark and meet up with you when we find him. Remember, when you come across anyone take them out, but don't do too much damage. Fury told me he wants them in good enough condition to question them when we're done here, or at least the leader." However, when they searched the facility, there was no one. The building was eerily, completely empty except for the two guards they had subdued upon arrival. When the others began to arrive at Clint's destination, they discovered that he had gotten the cell's door open and was attempting to talk to the small child who was just staring at him, unfazed. Even when Thor, who probably looked like the giant of all giants, as Clint towered over the kid, he remained calm and seemed to just be standing there taking everything in. Whoever this kid was, he wasn't even afraid of the fact that they all had weapons, to least not to the average person. Clint could see the defensive undertones in his stance. Bruce saw the way that his eyes seemed to have the same glint as Tony's, taking every tiny bit of information in, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to someone else. Thor immediately noticed that he could sense that there was magic around them. Natasha noticed how the child reminded her both of the Red Room and Tony himself.
"Be careful friends, there I sense a magic in this room," Thor told them as Steve arrived. When the kid saw Steve, all hell broke loose. He made a squawking sound and practically threw himself backward into a corner; the little progress that Clint had made and Bruce was beginning to make was all for naught. He then grabbed the closest item to him to throw as a projectile, which happened to be the arc reactor, and Natasha was the first to recover. She slowly approached him, with both hands visible in a nonaggressive manner, but as soon as she was close enough, he abandoned his weapon and stole a gun from it's hidden place on her ankle, sweeping her feet in the process. Of course, she caught her balance right away and was able to stop him as he went for a clear shot at Steve's head,
"Calmati, piccolo. Dammi la pistola." The kid looked unsure, so Natasha continued, "Antonio, va tutto bene. Io ti proteggerò se lui ti dà problemi." He offered her the gun but continued to eye Steve warily.
"...Well, we better get going. We can take him to the Helicarier, see what Fury wants us to do with him." Clint decided.
Translations:
"Calmati, piccolo. Dammi la pistola."- "Calm down, little one. Give me the gun."
"Antonio, va tutto bene. Io ti proteggerò se lui ti dà problemi."- "Antonio, everything is alright. I will protect you if he gives you any problems."